Lake Assal (Djibouti)

Lake is the deepest depression of Africa

The Lake Assal (French Lac Assal ) is the saltiest water on earth outside Antarctica ( only to be found in the Antarctic dry valleys lakes, some with even higher salinity; see Don - Juan- Lake ).

Location

The Lake Assal is located west of the Gulf of Aden in the Afar depression in the center of Djibouti (East Africa).

Salinity

Its salinity is ten times higher than that of the oceans, or about 2 to 7 percentage points above that of the Dead Sea, with 35 percent. The Lake Assal covers 54 km ². Its water surface is different claims to 153, 155 or 173 m below sea level, so that its shore areas the lowest point - form Africa - that the deepest depression.

It is mainly fed by underground springs, which in turn their water from the nearby Gulf of Aden, and thus refer to the Indian Ocean. Its high salt content is a result of the high evaporation.

Although more than 100 years ago Europeans came to the lake, only a few people outside of Lake Assal of Djibouti is also known today.