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Introduction
DJIBOUTI: Djibouti is a late 19th-century city with a distinctly Arab feel. Attractions include the lively Central Market (Le Marché Central) near the Mosque, and many good local restaurants. Also worth seeing is the Tropical Aquarium with underwater exhibits form the Red Sea (open daily 1600-1830), and the Presidential Palace. Nearby are beaches at Dorale, 11km (7 miles), and Kor Ambado, 14km (9 miles). Djibouti lies within a geological feature known as the Afar Triangle, one of the hottest and most desolate places on Earth. Part of the Great Rift Valley system, it is a wedge of flat desert pushing into the Ethiopian Massif. Much of it is below sea level, indeed Lake Assal, 100km (60 miles) to the southwest of Djibouti city, is one of the lowest surface areas anywhere on the planet (150m (570 ft) below sea level); and is reachable only by four-wheel-drive vehicle.
BEYOND DJIBOUTI: Located 95km (59 miles) south-west of Djibouti lies Ali-Sabeh, a major stop for the main-line train between Djibouti and Addis Ababa. The journey from the capital crosses two stunning desert plains; Petit Bara and Grand Bara. The large market draws visitors to the city. Straddling the Ethiopian frontier is Lake Abbé, the home of thousands of flamingoes and pelicans. On the opposite side of the Gulf of Tadjoura, an excellent place for scuba diving, fishing and underwater photography, are the towns of Obock and Tadjoura, a town with seven mosques. In the hinterland is the Goda Mountains National Park.
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