Bab-el-Mandeb, Maritime strait between Yemen and Djibouti.
Bab-el-Mandeb is a strait between Djibouti and Yemen that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Perim Island divides it into two channels, an eastern one of about 2 miles and a western one of about 16 miles in width.
British ships occupied Perim Island in 1799 to control the sea route to India. South Yemen took over the island in 1967 after the end of British colonial rule in the region.
The name means Gate of Tears in Arabic and recalls the risks sailors faced crossing this passage. Fishermen from coastal villages still use traditional wooden boats for their daily journeys through the strait.
The strait lies between two coastal countries with different travel conditions and access options. Visitors can reach viewpoints along the shores but should check local safety advisories before traveling.
Water flows in both directions at once, with deeper currents moving north from the gulf and surface currents running south from the Red Sea. This movement occurs because of temperature and salinity differences between the two basins.
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