Somali Coast
Salt extraction from Lake Assal's salt bank established the ancient caravan routes linking the lake with the mountains of Ethiopia for barter trading such items as sorghum, coal, and other commodities. Salt was also traded in South Abyssinia for coffee, ivory, musk and slaves. It was a source of wealth for the local tribes. Known in Arabic as Buhayrah Asal or "Honey Lake", the lake is found about 120 km (75 miles) west of Djibouti city, in a volcanic crater at the top of the Great Rift Valley. At 155 metres (509 feet) below sea level, Lake Assal is the lowest point on land in Africa and the third-lowest point on Earth. No water flows out of the lake, with high evaporation, the salinity level of the water is ten times that of the sea, making it the third most saline body of water in the world. By 1893 the French government had sold the right to refine and export salt from Lake Assal to a M. Chefneux who agreed to pay into the colonial office the sum of $10,000 a year, and more 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. A part of the lake was designated for local people to freely procure all the salt they wanted. Salt production waned until the market in Ethiopia opened up during the Eritrean war of independence. In recent years there has been significant Chinese investment in developing the salt industry to supply Chinese markets. Nearly 80% of production in 2023 is held by Societe d'Exploitation du Lac and Societe d'Exploitation du Salt Investment S.A de Djibouti.
Go to the Salty Stamps Home Page. © Derrick Grose, 2023 |
