Coastline of Somalia

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Northern part of Somalia's coast, as seen from space. ISS062-E-51245 - View of Earth.jpg
Northern part of Somalia's coast, as seen from space.

Somalia's coastline consists of the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Guardafui Channel to the northeast and the Indian Ocean to the east. The total length of the coastline is approximately 3333 km, [1] giving the country the longest coastline on mainland Africa. The country has second-longest coastline in all of Africa, behind the island nation of Madagascar (4828 km).

The coastline is generally divided into two parts, northern and eastern coastlines, separated by the tip of the Horn of Africa known as Cape Guardafui. The city of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia is situated in the south of the country along the eastern coastline of Somalia. The northern coastline is shared with the Gulf of Aden, the northeastern with Guardafui Channel, and the eastern with the Indian Ocean. The coastline plays a major role in maintaining the economy of the country through fishing and trade; meanwhile, other areas of the economy are not very productive. [2] The northern tip of the coastline meets Djibouti in west and the eastern tip meets Kenya in the south. There are a number of islands near the coastal areas. Ras Caseyr (Cape Guardafui) is the easternmost point of Somalia; this point joins the Guardafui Channel to the Gulf of Aden. [3]

Geographical features

The coastline of Somalia has different conditions throughout its length. Being the second-longest in Africa, this coastline is the easternmost coastline of continental Africa, comprises part of the north-western coastline of the Indian Ocean, and is the nearest coastline to the Socotra Islands, which are part of Yemen. Its continental shelf is spread over 32500 km2. The northern coastline extends from Djibouti to the east of Somalia, and the eastern coastline extends from the north-east to the south-west of Somalia, touching Kenya. [4]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Djibouti</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Somalia</span> Geographical features of Somalia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ras Hafun</span> Easternmost point of Africa, in Somalia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf of Tadjoura</span> Gulf of the Indian Ocean in the Horn of Africa

The Gulf of Tadjoura is a gulf or basin of the Indian Ocean in the Horn of Africa. It lies south of the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, or the entrance to the Red Sea, at 11.7°N 43.0°E. The gulf has many fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters. Most of its coastline is the territory of Djibouti, except for a short stretch on the southern shore, which is part of the territory of Somaliland.

Bargal is a town in the northeastern Bari region of Puntland, Somalia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Djibouti</span> Overview of and topical guide to Djibouti

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Djibouti:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Somalia</span> Overview of and topical guide to Somalia

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Somalia:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Somaliland</span> Overview of and topical guide to Somaliland

The following outline is provided as an overview and topical guide to Somaliland:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afar Triple Junction</span> Place where three tectonic rifts meet in East Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guardafui Channel</span> Ocean strait on the Horn of Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Sagar</span> Tropical cyclone which made landfall in Somalia and Somaliland

Cyclonic Storm Sagar was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in Somalia and Somaliland in recorded history until Gati in 2020, and the first named cyclone of the 2018 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Forming on May 16 east of the Guardafui Channel, Sagar intensified into a cyclonic storm on the next day, as it gradually organized. The storm turned to the west-southwest and traversed the entirety of the Gulf of Aden, making landfall over Somaliland on May 19, farther west than any other storm on record in the North Indian Ocean. Sagar weakened into a remnant low on May 20.

References

  1. "Africa :: Somalia - The World Factbook". Central Intelligence Agency. 7 Feb 2020.
  2. Metz, Helen Chapin, ed. (1992). Somalia - Geography. Somalia: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress.
  3. "Somalia". www.nationsencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. Carbone, Federico; Accordi, Giovanni (2000). "The Indian Ocean Coast of Somalia". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 41 (1–6): 141–59. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00107-7.