The Gulf of Tadjoura (; ) is a gulf or basin of the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

in the Horn of Africa. It lies south of the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, or the entrance to the

Red Sea The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...

, at . The gulf has many fishing grounds, extensive

coral reef A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in group ...

s, and abundant pearl oysters. Most of its coastline is the territory of

Djibouti Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...

, except for a short stretch on the southern shore, which is part of the territory of Somaliland. The Gulf’s other marine habitats include sea grass beds, salt pans and mangroves.

History

In August 1840, the conclusion of a treaty of friendship and commerce between the Sultan Mohammed bin Mohammed of Tadjoura and Commander Robert Moresby of the Indian Navy is tracking the sale of Moucha Island to

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

for ten sacks of rice. The sale will however follow any occupation. In 1887, Britain cedes sovereignty of the island to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

at the same time it recognizes the French sphere of influence in the Gulf of Tadjoura, in exchange for the abandonment by France of any right in Zeila and the neighboring islands.

Geography

The area of the gulf is 347 km² (900 sq mi). The length (from the Sagallo to Obock) is 64 km (40 mi) and the width varies from 26 km (16 mi).The gulf is relatively shallow with the depth decreasing from the entrance to the gulf to the continent. The coast is mostly sloping; there are abundant sandy dunes, with occasional palm trees. The southern shores are smooth and shallow. At the entrance of the Gulf is the group of small islands of Moucha and Maskali. At the bottom of the Gulf, separated only by a narrow neck of land, Ghoubbet-el-Kharab and Assal (54 km²). Geologically, formerly covered the Gulf to Lake Assal, which is now about 155 meters below sea level

Limits

The limits of the Gulf of Tadjoura as follows: ::''On the East'' – The western limit of the

Gulf of Aden The Gulf of Aden (; ) is a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean between Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west, and the Guardafui Channel, the Socotra Archipelago, Puntland in Somalia and Somaliland to the south. ...

(A line joining Obock and Lawyacado). ::''On the West'' – The meridian of Ghoubbet-el-Kharab.

Islands

The Gulf of Tadjoura is home to many small islands. Geographically the biggest island in the Gulf of Tadjoura is Moucha Island. The Gulf of Tadjoura islands are often also historically significant, having been used in the past by colonial powers such as the French and the British in their trade or as acquisitions for their empires.

Wildlife

The wildlife of the Gulf of Tadjoura is diverse, and entirely unique due to the gulf's geographic distribution. The Gulf of Tadjoura has hosted some of the most magnificent marine fauna and flora, some of which are near extinction or at serious environmental risk. From corals, to dugongs, Gulf of Tadjoura is a diverse cradle for many species who depend on each other for survival.

Population

The Gulf of Tadjoura is far more densely populated on the Djiboutian shore. The most significant towns and cities along both the Djiboutian and Somali sides of the Gulf of Tadjoura

Djibouti

* Djibouti City: 529,000 * Tadjoura: 45,000 * Obock: 21,000 * Loyada: 1,367 * Sagallo: 719

Somaliland

* Lawyacado: 1,650

Tourism

The Gulf of Tadjoura is one of the major tourist attractions for Djibouti, believed to be a perfect place for snorkelling with whale sharks, diving and underwater photography. There are two important towns on the gulf: Obock, where Afar and Somali sultans had sold settlement rights to the French, and Tadjoura, which houses seven important mosques and offers magnificent views from the sea. Tadjoura is beautifully surrounded by the green Goda Mountains. The hills of this mountain are . Due to coral reefs, the Gulf of Tadjoura is a heaven for divers and snorkelers. It attracts 40% of foreign tourists visiting Djibouti.

Economy

Passenger transport on the gulf includes a number of ferry lines which connect the following ports: Djibouti City, Tadjoura and Obock.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gulf Of Tadjoura Bodies of water of the Red Sea Bodies of water of Djibouti Bodies of water of Somaliland Gulf of Aden Gulfs of Africa Tadjoura Arta Region Bab-el-Mandeb Djibouti City Tadjourah Region Djibouti–Somaliland border