Salt of the earth: Visiting the Lac Assal in Dschibuti

Salt of the earth: Visiting the Lac Assal in Dschibuti

We visit the LAC Assal in the Afar-Senke, where three divergent tectonic plates have created some of the strangest sights we have ever seen

The LAC Assal in Dschibuti is wrong. At first glance, it appears as a wonderful vastness made of blue -green water and dazzling white sand, which can easily be confused with a Maldivian beach. However, there is a painful lesson behind the facade: the wide white level is not a sand at all, but salt at all: jagged fragments that are bristled on the skin and they want to itch for water.

Maybe you venture out for swimming, but there is no peace there either. The LAC Assal, a crater lake in the center of Dschibuti, is ten times salty than the sea. In fact, it is the second -old waters in the world and will burn your eyes and scratch your skin when you spend the courage to go swimming.

Alt = "The LAC Assal in Dschibuti could be confused with a Maldivian beach"Atlas & BootsThe Lac Assal in Dschibuti could be confused with a Maldivian beach

The geology of the lake is fascinating: at 155 m below the sea level it is the deepest point in Africa and the third deepest point in the world after the Dead Sea and the Sea of ​​Genezareth. It is located in the Danakil desert on the Afar Triple Junction, where three of the tectonic plates of the earth pull apart. The area suffers from extreme heat with summer temperatures of up to 52 ° C (126 ° F).

High evaporation and no drain lead to extreme salinity. Geologists say that the lake originally contained fresh water, and theories differ in explaining the change. It could be that the LAC Assal was flooded from a nearby bay from the sea or that the rising sea level produced rivers that combine the lake with the sea, or that shocks from surrounding volcanoes cut the original connection to the Golf of Tadjoura. Whatever is the explanation, the result is enchanting.

Alt = "There are theories behind the extreme salinity of the LAC Assal"Atlas & BootsDespite the extreme saline, the Lac Assal is absolutely enchanting

When we went to the shore, the dry salt bed crunched under our feet as in a long time stuck snow and the blazing sun and the white appearance blossomed in full bloom. We undressed on the bank and took a few cautious steps into it. It soon became clear that we couldn't wade barefoot, so we returned to get our shoes before we jumped in.

There is no exaggeration to say that the pain was shy. The salt stabs even in the smallest cut and Mr. help you when it gets into your eyes.

The water has strangely viscous quality; An oily texture that leaves a film on the skin. The film is of course a layer of salt, which, although it is bearable in the water, itch when drying in the sun to distraction.

Don't try to put on leggings as I did afterwards! Instead, pack a loose pair of shorts and some fresh water to remove the salt as well as possible. However, keep in mind that fresh water is precious to the local population, so they are sparingly deal with.

The locals Afar and Issa have been breaking down the lake for a long time, scraping or digging salt from the shore and carving the old caravan routes for the transport of salt to Ethiopia in exchange for coal, coffee, ivory, musk and other goods.

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• Alt = "First look at the Lac Assal in Dschibuti"
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• Alt = "There are theories behind the extreme salinity of the LAC Assal"
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Atlas & Boots

Today private companies win salt from the LAC Assal for commercial purposes, and a new industrial complex, which is financed by the Chinese, is ready to further market the lake.

The future of the LAC Assal is certainly on the market, be it in salt extraction or in increasing tourism. For the time being, it remains a remote place of unhindered beauty - only one of the many miracles of Dschibutis. This tiny country, the eight -smallest Africa, is a confusing landscape of bubbling limestone chimney, large desert levels, petrified forests, extraordinary salt lakes and untouched coral reefs that are pressed on an area of ​​an area of ​​the size of the size of England.

I hope you will forgive me, but the locals are right: your country is really jibutiful.

LAC Assal in Dschibuti: The essentials

What: Visit to the Lac Assal in Dschibuti as part of a 2-day tour with 1 night to the Lac Abbé and the Lac Assal.

Where: We stayed in an Afar camp that was surprisingly comfortable (running water, western toilets with bids and electricity!).

Then we returned to the Sheraton Djibouti with a view of the Red Sea. The rooms are clean and comfortable with excellent WiFi and beautiful sea view on one side of the hotel. The outer pool is located on an elevated platform above the sea and conveys the distinctive feeling of being on board a boat.

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Atlas & Boots

The hotel offers a number of amenities, including a free airport transfer, a business with the most necessary, a business center and a fully equipped fitness center. Of course we preferred the cozy lounge area, perfect to enjoy a whiskey sour in the evening and watch the sunset over a gentle rippling sea. Overall, it was a welcome touch of comfort with which we could end our trip.

When: The best time for a visit to Jibuti is November to January when whale sharks pay their annual visit and the weather is cooler. The temporary season from October and February to April is also a good time for a visit. May September is extremely hot.

Like: We visited Lac Abbé and Lac Assal on a 2-day tour with Rushing Waters Adventures, which is currently number one in Dschibuti on Tripadvisor. Rushing Waters is operated by the Ken from Wisconsin, who has lived in Dschibuti for over seven years (and can even speak Somali!).

Our tour was well organized and, as mentioned above, the overnight camp was surprisingly comfortable. The tour includes collection and return, all meals and non -alcoholic drinks, a driver for two days and accommodation for one night. Overall, it is an excellent way to visit these landscapes. Book over Ken at Rushing Waters Adventures: www.kayakdjibouti.com, kgradall@kayakdjibouti.com, +253 77 79 49 58.

Jibuti is a small country, which means that it is pretty easy to move on. Taxis from the airport require fixed driving prices to hotels in the city (approx. 2,000 DJF / $ 11). Check the board outside the airport to ensure that you are not calculated too high. Some hotels, including the Sheraton, offer free shuttles, so find out beforehand.

Book international flights via skyscanner.net at the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Ethiopia & Dschibuti is a useful travel guide for jibuti, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take the less busy road.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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