Djibouti - The Moucha and Maskali Islands

"Located at the opening of the Gulf of Tadjourah, the Moucha and Maskali Islands are madreporic reefs emerged. The emergence of these reefs dates from the late Pleistocene (140,000 to 100,000 BP years) and shows the uplift that accompanies the opening of the rift. These small desert islands include a lush mangrove of mangroves. Their underwater landscape of great beauty is composed, among others, of multicolored algae and coral gardens. Their fish-rich waters are home to an exceptional marine life such as: the red-billed phaeton Phaethon aetherus, the reef Egretta gularis, the white spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, the chestnut-bellied Ganga Pterocles exusta and probably the stingor spider Acrocephalus stentoreus or the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the banded stingray (Taeniura lymma) and others as well as various turtles. Some of these species are endemic, including the white-winged gull, Larus leucopthalmus. The Moucha and Maskali Islands are also marked by their sandy beaches and exceptional natural scenery."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List


Multi-view of Djibouti with photo of Maskali Islands in the centre of the bottom row in the postcard. Thanks to DAO of United Kingdom for this beautiful postcard mailed from Djibouti.