Most of the islands are barren and without permanent settlement. Somalia has the second-longest coastline in Africa only South Africa's is longer. The northern coast, along the Gulf of Aden, begins on the west at the border of Djibouti.
Sandy beaches are interspersed with rocky cliffs, and the north coast has no reefs. Ras Caseyr Cape Guardafui is a rugged headland where the north and east coasts meet. From there, the Indian Ocean coast runs south in a succession of sandy beaches with little indentation. Along the southern stretch, from Mogadishu to the Kenya border, coral reefs form a barrier to the shore, which lacks natural harbors.
Somalia does not have any permanent lakes. In the Haud, some basins are filled by rains and intermittent floodwater, creating temporary ponds. Somalia also has artificial ponds designed to capture precious seasonal waters for irrigation and drinking.
Wells and springs are of great importance to Somalia's water supply. Somalia's two permanently flowing rivers, the Jubba Gestro and Shabeelle, are used for irrigation but are not navigable by large boats.
The Jubba River is approximately 1, kilometers 1, miles long. The Shabeelle River, the country's longest river, has a total length of 2, kilometers 1, miles , of which only 1, kilometers miles run through Somalia. To its north, the Shabeelle River flows towards the coast, then turns southeast following the coast, dwindling to its end in marshlands and sand flats.
In times of heavy rain, the Shabeelle waters can meet those of the Jubba. The area between the two rivers is Somalia's most fertile region. The wetlands of Somalia surround the outlet of the Jubba River and the lower reaches of the Shabeelle River, where swamp basins are the habitat of birds and reptiles.
Some mangrove forests are still found in Somalia, especially along the Jubba outlet, but most have been destroyed by cutting for fuel and fodder. The two largest watercourses in northern Somalia are the seasonal Daror and Nugaaleed stream systems.
Both are usually dry. About 25 percent of Somalia is desert, usually consisting of sand or gravel mixed with some vegetation. The deserts run along most of Somalia's northern and central coasts and extend into the interior.
Desertification is steadily claiming grassland and wooded areas across Somalia. On the Gulf of Aden coast, the Guban Desert is a hot, dry plain with a system of sandy seasonal watercourses. It is a desert with low vegetation that is a habitat for birds, reptiles, and antelopes.
Over-grazing of the grasses that anchored the dunes in place has destabilized areas of sand dunes along the Indian Ocean coast. Up to 70 percent of Somalia is a scrubland ecosystem of coarse grass-patches and shrubs. This terrain is especially pervasive in the Haud Plateau region of the north and throughout the south.
The scrub vegetation receives minimal rain, but it is resilient. Where there is water, as in the area between the Jubba and Shabelle Rivers, good pastureland results. The city of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia is situated in the south of the country along the eastern coastline of Somalia.
The northern coastline is shared with the Gulf of Aden, the northeastern with Guardafui Channel, and the eastern with the Indian Ocean. The coastline plays a major role in maintaining the economy of the country through fishing and trade; meanwhile, other areas of the economy are not very productive. At present, the continental shelf is not adequately monitored or protected, so coastal habitats are being degraded, living marine resources are overexploited, and pollution levels are increasing, all of which affect natural resources and biodiversity.
This will affect fisheries and aquaculture in terms of the investment, production, trade and fish consumption of the member states.
The area from Kisimayo to Ras Chiambone is probably of highest priority, as it is important for coral reefs, marine turtles, and mangrove resources, although it is still poorly known. Type of content:. Publications and Reports. Author s :. Federico Carbone , Giovanni Accordi. Year Published:. Topics of the content:. Biophysical environment. Geographical Information:.
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