Djibouti city is the capital and biggest city in the country of Djibouti. It is situated on the Gulf of Tadjoura in the coastal Djibouti Region.
The metropolis, which has a population of roughly 620,000 people, is home to more than 70% of the country’s population. The French constructed the hamlet in 1888 on territory leased from the governing Somali and Afar Sultans.
It served as the capital of French Somaliland and its successor, the French Territory of the Afars and Issas, for the next several decades.
Djibouti city, often known as the Pearl of the Gulf of Tadjoura, is strategically located in the world’s busiest shipping routes and serves as a refueling and transshipment hub. The Port of Djibouti is the main port for importing and exporting goods to and from Ethiopia.
In addition, the city is home to a number of foreign embassies and the headquarters of a number of international organizations, non-profits, and businesses. The principal domestic airport, Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, connects the city to a number of key worldwide destinations.
Djibouti city – Info Card
POPULATION : | City: 623,891 |
FOUNDED : | 1881 |
TIME ZONE : | East Africa Time (UTC+3) |
LANGUAGE : | Somali and Afar. Arabic and French |
RELIGION : | Muslim 94%, Christian 6% |
AREA : | 630 km2 (240 sq mi) |
ELEVATION : | 14 m (46 ft) |
COORDINATES : | 11°35′18″N 43°08′42″E |
SEX RATIO : | • Male: 50.24% • Female: 49.76% |
ETHNIC : | Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian) |
AREA CODE : | |
POSTAL CODE : | ISO 3166 code: DJ-DJ |
DIALING CODE : | +253 |
Tourism in Djibouti city
The Djibouti area is the focus of Djibouti tourism. Historic structures, two prominent public squares, and the Hall of the People are all city landmarks. A number of private firms provide guided tours of these locations. The city’s sandy beaches, known as the “Pearl of the Gulf of Tadjoura,” are also popular tourist destinations.
Khor Ambado is a small town on the outskirts of Djibouti, around 15 kilometers from the city center. This beach, which is a major local attraction, includes a variety of restaurants with views of the sea. Doraleh is another beach approximately ten miles from the city, accessible through a paved road that passes over volcanic sand dunes. Doraleh is a popular hangout on Fridays leading up to the weekend, thanks to its main restaurant. Siesta Beach and Heron Beach are two more popular beaches in the city.
An hour’s journey from Djibouti City are the two tiny islands of Maskali and Moucha. They have a rich substrate and colorful algae, as well as madreporic mangroves. Groupers, jacks, and barracuda are among the fish species found in the nearby coral gardens.
La Place du 27 Juin, a street named after Djibouti’s independence day, is another important municipal monument. The Place Mahamoud-Harbi (previously Place Rimbaud) was also named after a significant local person, Mahmoud Harbi, the former Vice President of the Government Council.
Climate of Djibouti city
Djibouti is one of the world’s hottest and driest cities.
The average high temperature ranges from 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) in December, January, and February to about 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.
There are two seasons: a hot, dry summer from May to October, and a colder, wetter winter from November to April (winter).
The rainy season on the coast is from November to March, whereas the rainy season inland is from April to October.
Temperatures typically surpass 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer, with relative humidity levels frequently topping 50%, even throughout the day. The city receives plenty of sunlight, averaging eight to ten hours per day all year.
There are few days without sunlight throughout the year, and there are plenty of clear days even in the winter.
Geography of Djibouti city
Djibouti City is the capital and biggest town in the Horn of Africa country of Djibouti. The city lies in eastern Djibouti, some 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of the Somalia border.
It is a seaport with the Gulf of Aden’s sole protected harbor on the western side. The city’s surroundings, as well as Djibouti’s coastal lowlands, are desert or semi-arid.
The city’s sandy beaches, including as Siesta Beach and Heron Beach, are famous tourist destinations. Because of its position, it is regarded as the “Pearl of the Gulf of Tadjoura.”
Economy of Djibouti city
Most local firms have their headquarters in Djibouti City, which is the capital and biggest municipality in Djibouti. The headquarters of Djibouti Telecom, the country’s major telecommunications firm, are located here. Djibouti Airlines had its headquarters in the city throughout its existence.
Many entrepreneurial enterprises, including construction, retail, import and export, Internet cafés, and firms that handle remittances from family overseas, call Djibouti city home.
Djibouti’s main economic activity is port activities in the neighborhood of Djibouti City. Ethiopian oil is transported and exported via the city’s port.