Lake Assal ( , literally 'honey lake') is a
crater lake in central-western
Djibouti. It is located at the western end of
Gulf of Tadjoura in the
Tadjoura Region, touching
Dikhil Region, at the top of the
Great Rift Valley, some west of
Djibouti city. Lake Assal is a saline lake which lies below
sea level in the
Afar Triangle, making it the lowest point on land in
Africa and the second-lowest land depression on Earth after the
Dead Sea. No outflow occurs from the lake, and due to high evaporation, the salinity level of its waters is 10 times that of the sea, making it the most saline in the world after
Don Juan Pond. Lake Assal is the world's largest salt reserve, which is exploited under four concessions awarded in 2002 at the southeast end of the lake; the major share of production (nearly 80%) is held by Société d’Exploitation du Lac and Société d’Exploitation du Salt Investment S.A de Djibouti.