Lake Abbe (also spelled Lake Abhe) is one of the most surreal and otherworldly landscapes on the planet. This hypersaline lake, located on the border of Djibouti and Ethiopia, is the final destination for the Awash River. It is not the lake itself that is the main attraction, but the incredible landscape that surrounds it: a vast, cracked salt flat dotted with hundreds of towering limestone chimneys, some reaching up to 50 meters (164 feet) high. These chimneys vent steam and sulfurous gases, creating a desolate, lunar-like environment that feels like a scene from another world. This unique geological setting, combined with nomadic culture and flocks of flamingos, makes Lake Abbe an unforgettable destination for adventurous travelers.

Name and Address

• Name: Lake Abbe (or Lake Abhe).
• Address: Located in the Afar Depression, on the border of Djibouti and Ethiopia, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Djibouti City.

How to Get There

Reaching Lake Abbe is a significant undertaking, requiring a long journey through a remote and harsh desert landscape.

• By 4×4 Vehicle (Essential): This is the only way to get to Lake Abbe. The journey from Djibouti City takes around 4-5 hours, much of it off-road, crossing the vast, arid plains of the Grand Bara and Petit Bara deserts. It is crucial to travel with an experienced driver and guide.
• Guided Tours (Highly Recommended): Nearly all visits to Lake Abbe are part of an organized tour, typically an overnight trip from Djibouti City. This is the safest and most practical option, as tour operators handle all transportation, permits, meals, and accommodation in a local Afar camp.
• Visitor Tip: The experience of Lake Abbe is most magical at sunset and sunrise. An overnight stay is essential. The heat is extreme, so travel during the cooler months (October to February) is best. There are no hotels; accommodation is in basic, traditional Afar huts.

Landscape and Architecture

The “architecture” of Lake Abbe is entirely natural and geological, a result of the unique tectonic and hydrothermal activity in the Afar Depression.

• Limestone Chimneys: The most famous feature of the landscape is the hundreds of limestone (travertine) chimneys that dominate the salt flats. These were formed over thousands of years as underground geothermal water, rich in calcium carbonates, was forced to the surface and deposited minerals as it evaporated.
• Steam Vents (Fumaroles): Many of these chimneys are still active, venting steam and sulfurous gases into the air, which adds to the eerie, primordial atmosphere. You can hear the bubbling and hissing of the geothermal activity beneath the crust.
• The Salt Lake and Flats: The lake itself is a shallow, highly saline body of water. Due to water extraction upstream on the Awash River, the lake has shrunk dramatically over the years, leaving behind a vast, cracked salt flat that stretches to the horizon.
• Afar Depression: The entire area is part of the Afar Depression, a geological triple junction where the African, Somali, and Arabian tectonic plates are pulling apart. This makes it one of the most geologically active and unique places on Earth.

What Makes It Famous

Lake Abbe is famous for its absolutely unique, unearthly landscape that has no parallel.

• The “Planet of the Apes” Landscape: Its primary claim to fame is its surreal scenery. The field of steaming limestone chimneys is so otherworldly that it was famously used as a filming location for the original Planet of the Apes movie, and it is often described as a “lunar” or “Martian” landscape.
• Geothermal Activity: The active steam vents and hot springs provide a dramatic and tangible display of the powerful geological forces at work just beneath the Earth’s surface.
• Flamingo Colonies: The saline waters of the lake attract large colonies of lesser and greater flamingos, whose bright pink forms create a stunning splash of color against the desolate backdrop.
• Afar Culture: The area is home to the semi-nomadic Afar people, and a visit often includes interaction with them, providing a glimpse into one of the most resilient cultures on Earth.

Differences from Other Wonders

Lake Abbe provides an experience that is dramatically different from Djibouti’s other major natural attraction, Lac Assal.

• Chimneys and Steam vs. Salt Flats and Turquoise Water: While Lac Assal is defined by its vast, blindingly white salt flats and brilliant turquoise water, Lake Abbe’s landscape is characterized by its towering, vertical limestone chimneys and the steam they emit. Lac Assal is a spectacle of color and flatness; Lake Abbe is a spectacle of bizarre, three-dimensional structures and geothermal activity.
• A Living Ecosystem vs. a Sterile Environment: Lac Assal is so hypersaline that it is almost completely devoid of life. Lake Abbe, while still salty, supports a significant ecosystem, most notably the huge flocks of flamingos that feed in its waters, adding a vibrant wildlife element to the experience.
• “Planet of the Apes” vs. “Lowest Point in Africa”: Each site has a distinct claim to fame. Lac Assal is famous for being a place of geographical superlatives (lowest point, one of the saltiest lakes). Lake Abbe is famous for its cinematic, otherworldly appearance that feels like stepping onto another planet.