Gulf indenting the coastline of Djibouti, eastern Africa. It provides shelter for the port of Djibouti on its southeastern shore. The gulf is 56 km (35 miles) wide at the mouth and 31 km (50 miles) long, with a depth of as much as 3,550 feet (1,082 m) near the centre. There is a 54m (164 feet) drop off the coast of Djibouti. The coastline is barren, inhabited mostly by pastoral nomads. Obock and Tadjoura are smaller towns on the gulf.