Lake Assal (Djibouti)

Not to be confused with Lake Karum (Lake Assale) Ethiopia, in the northern Afar Depression
Lake Assal
Buḥayrah ʿAsal
Location Afar Depression
Coordinates 11°39′N 42°25′E / 11.650°N 42.417°E / 11.650; 42.417Coordinates: 11°39′N 42°25′E / 11.650°N 42.417°E / 11.650; 42.417
Type Crater lake
Primary inflows Subsurface from the ocean
Primary outflows Evaporation
Catchment area 900 km2 (350 sq mi)
Basin countries Djibouti
Max. length 19 km (12 mi)
Max. width 6.5 km (4.0 mi)
Surface area 54 km2 (21 sq mi)
Average depth 7.4 m (24 ft)
Max. depth > 40 m (130 ft)
Water volume 400 million cubic metres (320,000 acre·ft)
Surface elevation −155 m (−509 ft)
Settlements Randa (25 km or 16 mi northeast)

Lake Assal (Arabic: بحيرة عسل‎ Buḥayrah ʿAsal, literally 'honey lake') is a crater lake in central-western Djibouti. It is located at the western end of Gulf of Tadjoura in the Tadjoura Region, touching Dikhil Region, at the top of the Great Rift Valley, some 120 km (75 mi) west of Djibouti city. Lake Assal is a saline lake which lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level in the Afar Triangle, making it the lowest point on land in Africa and the second-lowest land depression on Earth after the Dead Sea. No outflow occurs from the lake, and due to high evaporation, the salinity level of its waters is 10 times that of the sea, making it the most saline in the world after Don Juan Pond.[1][2][3][4][5] Lake Assal is the world's largest salt reserve, which is exploited under four concessions awarded in 2002 at the southeast end of the lake; the major share of production (nearly 80%) is held by Société d’Exploitation du Lac and Société d’Exploitation du Salt Investment S.A de Djibouti.[5]

The lake, considered a "national treasure", is a protected zone under the law No. 45/AN/04/5L of the National Environmental Action Plan, 2000. However, the law does not define the boundary limits of the lake. Since the exploitation of the salt from the lake was uncontrolled, the Plan has emphasized the need for managing the exploitation to avoid negative impact on the lake environment. The Government of Djibouti has initiated a proposal with UNESCO to declare the Lake Assal zone and the Ardoukoba volcano as a World Heritage Site.[5][6]

Geography

Lake Assal, with the salt pan on the left

Lake Assal is located in the middle of Djibouti, in a closed depression at the northern end of the Great Rift Valley. Situated in the Danakil Desert, it is bounded by hills on the western region. The lake lies at an altitude of 155 m (509 ft) below sea level, making it the lowest point of Africa.[1] The lake is characterized by two parts. The dry part of the lake, resulting from evaporation of the lake waters, is a white plain dry lake bed on the west/northwest side, which is a large expanse of salt. The second part is the highly saline water body.[3][4] The watershed area of the lake is 900 km2 (350 sq mi).[5][6]

The Lake Assal's caravan route

Lake Assal, in an oval shape (length 19 km (12 mi) and width 6.5 km (4.0 mi)),[7] consists of two distinct parts; one is "crystallised salt surface" zone of 68 km2 (26 sq mi) and the other is the high saline brine area of 54 km2 (21 sq mi). The crystallised salt zone extends to a depth of more than 60 m (200 ft) whose estimated resource is about 300 million tonnes.[5] The lake measures 10 by 7 km (6.2 by 4.3 mi) and has an area of liquid brine 54 km2 (21 sq mi). The maximum depth is 40 m (130 ft), whereas the mean depth is 7.4 m (24 ft), which makes for a water volume of 400 million cubic metres (320,000 acre·ft)

Salt extraction by the Afar nomad tribes of camel drivers and Issas from Lake Assal's salt bank established the ancient caravan routes. These linked the lake with the mountains of Ethiopia for barter trading such items as sorghum, coal, and other commodities. Salt was also bartered with South Abyssinia for items like coffee, ivory, musk, and also (historically) slaves. It was a source of wealth for the local tribes.[8][9] In the recent two decades, industrial mining has been revived with development of roads linking with the Ghoubbet El Kharab bay by the Gulf of Tadjoura.[6] The present road to Lake Assal is paved.[5][8] The lake is 120 km from Djibouti city.[7]

It is also reported that the lake water level is receding as discerned from a 50-ft mark on the banks of the lake from the present water level.[9]

Climate

Located in the hot desert, the lake experiences summer temperatures as high as 52 °C (126 °F) from May to September. Winter temperatures are not low at 34 °C (93 °F) from October to April when high humidity marks the season with coastal area experiencing rains. Strong, dry, hot winds are part of the environment. The monthly temperature variation is reported to be 6 °C, (10.8 °F).[.[3][4][5] During the summer season, the dry hot winds blow in two directions namely, the Sabo winds from the south-west and the Khamsin winds from the north-west. Winds during October and April blow from the east, resulting in sporadic rains.[6]

Incidence of rainfall varies widely with January, April, May, and October recording rains. June to August are dry months. The mean annual rainfall in 1993 and 1997 was reported as 773 mm (30.4 in) and 381 mm (15.0 in), respectively. The lowest rainfall of 23 mm (0.91 in) was recorded in 1996.[5]

Water temperature of the lake is reported to reach 33–34 °C.[7] However, when the wind velocity is low and evaporation also low, the temperature recorded was found to be 20 °C for surface water and above 25 °C at shallow depths of the lake.[5][6][10][11] The lake water colour also changes over the duration of the day, at times appearing in fluorescent colours.[8]

Geology

History

Lake Assal

The lake's geological history was studied by French geologists who compared it with the geology of Danakil lakes. According to this study, the lake originally contained freshwater overlying the 15 m (49 ft) mantle of tufas, marls and calcretes. At an elevation of 100 m (330 ft) "Melanoides tubeculatus (Melania tuberculata), Corbicula consobrina and Coelatura teretiuscula" were reported "resting on the basalts". At the present bed level, the formations of marls with Ervilius purpura and cerithium sp., are indicative of gradual transformation over the centuries to saline water lake; the reason could be on account of lagoon or marine intrusion. Diatomite with Navicula sp., kankar and nodules of gypsum are discerned above the saline band. These bands are converted into gypsiferous layers succeeded by rock salt layers; these layers are seen up to the lake level.[12]

Evolution

Two interpretations have been considered for the evolution of the present highly saline lake over the rock salt layers. One view, by Degoutin, is that the lake was flooded by the sea from the Ghoubbet el Kharâb and the second view is by Dreyfuss who attributes it to the rise in sea level resulting in subterranean flows that got established to the lake from the sea.[12]

Another theory mooted by the explorer, Major Harris, is that the volcanic convulsions could have been the cause for severing the original link of the lake with the Gulf of Tadjoura. This has been further substantiated by the level difference of 570 ft (170 m) between the gulf and the lake level and if this depth is added to that of the lake, the level becomes 676 ft (206 m) which is the level that exists at the head of the Ghoubbet el Kharâb.[13]

The geological setup around Lake Assal consists of volcanic basalt stratoïde (3.4 – 1.0 Mya) formations. The nearest volcano to the lake, to its southeast, is the Ardoukôka, about 3 km (1.9 mi) away from the shores of the lake, which is marked on topographic map with (-) 80 m (260 ft) contour line. The southern part of the lake has sand patches whose width varies from about 1–6 km (0.62–3.73 mi). There is hardly any arable land in the catchment. The important feature, from the point of view of the sources of water to the lake, is the Assal-Ghoubbet Rift, which is formed of recent basaltic formations (less than 1 Mya).[5][6]

Considering its geological evolution, the lake periphery now has crystal bands of salt and remarkable white gypsum above which are the distinct overlay of black basalt formations.[8]

Hydrology

The watershed area of the lake measures 900 km2 (350 sq mi). There is a residual surface runoff of fresh water into the lake from the sporadic rainfall from ephemeral streams; there are no defined streams in the catchment. Runoff from rainfall is in the form of flash floods which may last from several hours up to two or three days depending on the intensity of rainfall. This flow pattern affects the lake by inundating the salt pans. Temporary water courses are identified in the southern part of the lake, while the Kalou River valley has a permanent water source.[5][6]

Bay of Goudouk, sources of water to the Lake Assal

The main source of supply, however, is subsurface geothermal springs with aquifers linked to the sea water from the Ghoubbet El Kharab bay, which is 10 km (6.2 mi) to the southeast of the lake. The bay is part of the Gulf of Tadjoura, an western extension of the Gulf of Aden. The subterranean flow from the Gulf of Ghoubbet of the Red Sea is through a fissured channel of 5 km (3.1 mi) length by gravity in basalt formations of mountains existing on the east side of Lake Assal, as spring. The spring that emerges into the lake has a salt content of 39 g/L which is close to that of seawater. The lake water fluctuates by about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) with subsurface inflow estimated at 5,000–8,000 litres per second.[5][6]

Demographics

The lake precincts are inhabited by Afar people who extract salt from the lake for trading for their living.[3][4] The Economic Development of Lake Assal has assessed the population of the Assal region as a whole at 20,000.[6] Now, a settlement of 2000 people has been established near the lake.[8]

Wildlife

The vegetation in the lake area consists only of scattered, low, thorny bushes or shrubs on the right bank shores, except for one lone palm tree which is bypassed by the road.[4]

The lake water is rich in minerals but the only signs of life are a rich abundance of common bacteria.[7] The region has witnessed terrestrial fauna species of antelopes (small buck near the stream beds), camels, birds, lizards and insects.[6] The lake area does not support any kind of aqua fauna. However, near the hot spring source to the Lake Assal, some shoals of minnow fish species are reported, which are said to be similar to Cyprinodon variegatus which is a common species found in the Caribbean and South American salt works.

Chemical composition

Lake Assal

The chemical composition of the lake water is 300 g/L NaCl which is assessed with varying potential reserves of 4 to 8 million tonnes. The hot spring, which is source of supply to the Lake Assal from the gulf, has the same salinity level as that of seawater. The salinity concentration in the lake is a result of wind and sun action, which results in an annual average evaporation rate of 460 million m3.[5] The lake water is stated to be maintaining an equilibrium.[13]

Lake Assal is the most saline body of water on earth after Don Juan Pond with 34.8% average salt concentration[10] (up to 40% at 20 m (66 ft) depth); higher than the 33.7% level in the Dead Sea.[10][14] The dissolved salts include NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, CaSO4 and MgBr2, with NaCl dominating in Lake Assal and MgCl2 in the Dead Sea. The surface concentration of salts is 268.8 g/L for the Dead Sea and 276.5 g/L for Lake Assal; the concentration increases to 326.6 g/L at 50 m (160 ft) depth in the Dead Sea and to 398 g/L at 20 m (66 ft) depth in Lake Assal.[7]

Salt extraction

Sand pans extracted by industrial process

By 1893, the French government had sold to Mr. Chefneux the right to refine and export salt from Lake Assal. Chefneux agreed to pay into the colonial office the sum of $10,000 a year, and if, during the fifty years that he was to have the exclusive right to export salt from Lake Assal, the annual product exceeded 50,000 tonnes, he was to pay a tax of 20 cents for every tonne in excess. The government also designated a part of the lake where the local people could procure all the salt they wanted without tax or hindrance.[15]

Salt production on a semi commercial basis started in 1988 by small private enterprises.[16] Thereafter, extraction of salt from the lake peaked in 1998–2000 when there was a conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Djibouti replaced Eritrea in supplying salt to Ethiopia at highly attractive prices (250% of the earlier sale price) when it came to be known as the "white gold."[8] Commercial industrial production rose between 2004 and 2008. In 2004, after an initial low of 17,745 tonnes due to import duty of 53% imposed by Ethiopian exports, production increased and recorded a high of 110,000 tonnes in 2008. However, since 2008 the production has increased manifold as a result of the Government of Djibouti Department of Industries initiating action plans, in 2002, to expand the salt extraction process from the Lake Assal by adopting modern mechanical processes so that a crude salt production of 6 million tonnes could be achieved annually, eventually. After instituting a feasibility study for the purpose, the Salt Investment S.A., in a joint agreement, in March 2008, between Emerging Capital Partners LLC (ECP), Société d’Exploitation du Lac (SEL) and Hardtechnologies Group S.L. ("Hardtech"), have been made responsible for "developing the salt project further and are established under the laws of Djibouti for the purposes of harvesting, refining, storing, transporting and exporting salt extracted from Lake Assal." The project envisages extraction at the rate of 1,000 tonnes per hour, supported by a 250 tonnes per hour mechanical salt washing and upgrading plant. The target of 4 million tonnes is expected to be achieved by 2012.[5]

While most commercial salt extractions are done from the huge deposits on the shores of the lake, there is also another novel way of extraction done by wading through the lake waters. The extracted salt is found in the form of spheres formed out of salt crystals and marketed in the name of Djibouti salts. The extraction process involves whole family of indigenous people wading through the lake. Men wade deep into the lake and gather the pearls in baskets. Women help in sorting the collected spheres according to size by hand. They are then dried, stored in bags and transported to the harbour for sale.[17]

Development projects

The geothermal resources of this rift valley surrounding Lake Assal, which shows a high temperature variation, was studied for development in the Fiale area near Lava Lake, about 8 km (5.0 mi) north of the Lake Assal. It is proposed to establish a geothermal power station of 30 MW capacity. Wind power potential available in the Lake Assal area is also proposed to be exploited with a Wind Power station about 500 m (1,600 ft) from Lake Assal, near the geothermal plant.[5]

Considering the seismic and volcanic activity in the lake region, exploration for mineral deposits of gold was initiated in 2001 jointly by Djibouti and an American company.[8]

Lake Assal area, the Ghoubbet El Kharab bay and the Ardoukoba Volcano are proposed to be developed as tourist attractions.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Warren, John K. (23 February 2006). Evaporites: sediments, resources and hydrocarbons. Birkhäuser. p. 280. ISBN 978-3-540-26011-0. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Lake Assal". Encylopeadeia Brittanica. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Lake Assal – Djibouti". British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "A life of constant thirst beside Djibouti's Lake Assal". =British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 4 December 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Lake Salt Project, Djibouti:Environmental Impact Assessment" (pdf). Government of Djibouti:Salt Investment S.A.Z.F. November 2008. pp. 1–xii, 29. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Geothermal Development in the Assal Area in Djibouti." (pdf). Djibouti Environmental Management Plan. pp. i–xi,26, 29–30. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Microbiological Study of a Hypersaline Lake in French Somaliland" (PDF). American Society for Microbiology. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Michael Hodd (22 March 2002). East Africa handbook: the travel guide. Footprint Travel Guides. pp. 947–. ISBN 978-1-900949-65-1. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  9. 1 2 Africa. Forgotten Books. pp. 187–. ISBN 978-1-4400-7966-5. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 "Assal Lake – Djibouti". tixik.com. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  11. ↑ Walter Andrew Bell (1929). Horton-Windsor district, Nova Scotia. F.A.Acland, Printer. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  12. 1 2 The Prehistoric Cultures of the Horn of Africa. CUP Archive. pp. 114–. ISBN 978-1-00-128155-1. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  13. 1 2 Henry Saint Clair Wilkins (1870). Reconnoitring in Abyssinia: a narrative of the proceedings of the reconnoitring party, prior to the arrival of the main body of the expeditionary field force. Smith Elder. pp. 385–. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Lake Assal". Institute Water for Africa. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  15. ↑ Scientific American (Now in the public domain. ed.). Scientific American, inc. 1893. pp. 183–. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  16. ↑ Minerals Yearbook, 2008, V. 3, Area Reports, International, Africa and the Middle East. Government Printing Office. 25 October 2010. pp. 11–. ISBN 978-1-4113-2965-2. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  17. ↑ "Djibouti’s Mystery – Salt from Lake Assal". Salt News, the world of gourmet salt. Retrieved 26 May 2011.

Sources

External links

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