DJIBOUTI-Dinner is Complete plus some fun facts!

 

Our study of Djibouti has ended. I really enjoyed cooking this dinner last night. The blend of fragrant spices and heartiness of the lamb was a perfect marriage. What I loved most about Djibouti was the fact that different ethnic groups live together in harmony and have done so for many years by not only respecting the other cultures and festivals, but participating in them as well. We can all learn something from this. Here are some fun facts about Djibouti!

1. Djibouti is just a little smaller than the state of Massachusetts.
2. The history of the country dates back to the days of the barter system when the people inhabiting the region traded skins and hides for the perfumes and spices of ancient India, China and Egypt.
3. Djibouti enjoys proximity to few of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Apart from the closeness to the lanes, the country is also close to the Arabian oilfields.
4. Not only is Lake Assal the lowest point in Djibouti, it is also the lowest point in the continent of Africa.
5. The Afar and Somali ethnic groups in Djibouti were amongst the first populations in Africa to embrace Islam as a religion.
6. The only United States military base in sub-Saharan Africa is located in Djibouti. The country is an African pioneer in the fight against terrorism.
7. Strangely, the capital city of Djibouti goes by the same name and is the largest city in the country. Nearly two-thirds of the country’s population lives in the capital, while the rest are mostly nomadic herders.
8. Due to the curse of scanty rainfall in the country, agricultural production is limited only to fruits and vegetables. Most of the food in Djibouti is imported.
9. One of Djibouti’s biggest problems, apart from a huge long-term debt, is its rate of unemployment. The unemployment rate in Djibouti as present is at a high 50%.
10. Djibouti is located within the limits of the Afar Triangle, one of hottest and most isolated places on the surface of the earth.

Sources:http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/djibouti-facts/