Lake Assal, Djiboutian Grand Canyon, & Goubet

Last weekend I had the opportunity to travel to some local sights in Djibouti outside the city. Lake Assal was the highlight.  It is a salt lake and also the lowest point on the continent of Africa (515 feet below sea level).  The white in that picture is not sand, its crystal salt.  Lake Assal is also the saltiest body of water in the world with the exception of places in Antarctica.  Swimming in the lake was a good experience, great temperature (even in January!), and very peaceful - no one was around except my small group.  It is so salty you can float standing up.

On the way to the lake we stopped by at the so-called Djiboutian Grand Canyon. A great view, I didn't expect it of Djibouti.  We also visited the Bay of Goubet (pictured is Goubet island) as well as some beaches.  One beach featured black volcanic sand.  The landscape is lunar like, mountainous with volcanic rock scattered everywhere, very desolate, but beautiful in its own way (as long as you don't mind the lack of green).  We even passed a camel truck on the way back.