Bab-el-Mandeb

Bab-el-Mandeb
Bab-el-Mandeb
Bab-el-Mandeb
Basin countries  Yemen  Djibouti  Somalia  Eritrea
Max length 80 mi (130 km)
Max width 25 mi (40 km)
Average depth −609 ft (−185.6 m)

The Bab-el-Mandeb (variously transliterated Mandab or Mandib, and with article "el-" given also as "al-", with or without connecting dashes) meaning "Gate of Grief" in Arabic (باب المندب), is a strait located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, Djibouti and Eritrea, north of Somalia, in the Horn of Africa, and connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is sometimes called the Mandab Strait in the English language.

Bab-el-Mandeb area with description

Contents

Overview

Bathymetric map of the Red Sea with the Bab-el-Mandeb at the bottom right

The strait derives its name from the dangers attending its navigation, or, according to an Arab legend, from the numbers who were drowned by the earthquake which separated Asia and Africa.

The distance to the shore of the Cape Dezhnev in Russia is 10,855 km, which is the largest dimension of mainland Asia.

Bab el-Mandab acts as a strategic link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. In 2006, an estimated 3.3 million barrels (520,000 m3) of oil passed through the strait per day, out of a world total of about 43 million barrels per day (6,800,000 m3/d) moved by tankers.[1]

The distance across is about 20 miles (30 km) from Ras Menheli in Yemen to Ras Siyan in Djibouti. The island of Perim divides the strait into two channels, of which the eastern, known as the Bab Iskender (Alexander's Strait), is 2 miles (3 km) wide and 16 fathoms (30 m) deep, while the western, or Dact-el-Mayun, has a width of about 16 miles (25 km) and a depth of 170 fathoms (310 m). Near the coast of Djibouti lies a group of smaller islands known as the "Seven Brothers". There is a surface current inwards in the eastern channel, but a strong undercurrent outwards in the western channel.

According to the recent single origin hypothesis, the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb were probably witness to the earliest migrations of modern humans out of Africa, which occurred roughly 60,000 years ago.[2][3] At this time, the oceans were much lower and the straits were much shallower or dry, allowing a series of emigrations along the southern coast of Asia.

According to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church tradition, the straits of Bab-el-Mendeb were witness to the earliest migrations of Semitic Ge'ez speakers into Africa, occurring roughly around the same time as the Hebrew patriarch Jacob.[4]

Suspension Bridge

On February 22, 2008, it was revealed that a company owned by Tarek bin Laden is planning to build a bridge named Bridge of the Horns across the strait, linking Yemen with Djibouti[5]

Middle East Development LLC has issued a notice to construct a bridge passing across the Red Sea that would be the longest suspended passing in the world.[6]

Sub-Region

The Bab-el-Mandab is also a sub-region in the Arab League, which includes Djibouti, Yemen, Somalia and the Comoros Islands.

See also

References

External links

Coordinates: 12°35′N 43°20′E / 12.583°N 43.333°E / 12.583; 43.333


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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Bab el Mandeb — Vue satellite du détroit de Bab el Mandeb. Profondeur 310 m (max) Type Détroit Localisation Mer Rouge Golfe d Aden ( …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bab el-Mandeb — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Localización del Estrecho Bab el Mandeb …   Wikipedia Español

  • Bab-el-Mandeb — (en árabe, باب المندب bāb al mandib, que significa la puerta de las lágrimas ) es un estrecho que separa a la región Norte de Somalía, en África, de Yemen, en Asia, a la altura del cuerno de África; conectando al …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Bab el Mandeb — [bab′ el man′deb΄] strait joining the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden: 20 mi (32 km) wide …   English World dictionary

  • Bab-el-Mandeb — (Meerenge von Mekka [Thränen , Trauerpforte]), 1) gefährlich zu befahrende Meerenge zwischen dem Rothen u. Indischen Meere u. den Vorgebirgen Gardafui (auf afrikanischer Seite) u. Fartak; 2) (sonst Dere, Dire), Vorgebirge dabei, sonst mit einem… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Bab el Mandeb — (»Tor der Totenklage«), schmale Meerenge zwischen Arabien und Afrika, die aus dem Indischen Ozean (Golf von Aden) ins Rote Meer führt (vgl. Karte »Ägypten etc.«). Auf der arabischen Seite springt das Kap Dschebel Menheli vor, 264 m hoch, davor… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Bab el-Mandeb — (d.h. Tor der Trauer), Meerenge zwischen Arabien und Afrika [Karte: Afrika I, 2], verbindet das Rote Meer mit dem Golf von Aden; in derselben liegt die Insel Perim (s.d.) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Bab-el-Mandeb — (Thor der Thränen, des Todes), die 6 Seemeilen breite Meerenge, durch welche der arab. Meerbusen (rothes Meer) mit dem indischen Ocean verbunden ist; die Meerenge hat eine sehr starke Strömung und ist darum und wegen der kleinen Inseln »acht… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Bab-el-Mandeb — Satellitenaufnahme des Horns von Afrika mit dem Bab al Mandab Nähere Aufnahme des Bab al Mandab Der Bab al Mandab (arabisch ‏ …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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