Frenchman Frédéric Lancereau traveled to the small country Djibouti in eastern Africa. Djibouti is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Djibouti is one of the hottest area in the world. Temperature can climb over 45°c in July and August. Famous is Lac Assal, the lowest point in Africa. The shore of the large salt lake lies 156 meters below sea level.
The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transhipments and refuelling centre. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects.