Obock
Encyclopedia
Obock is a small port town in Djibouti
. It is located on the northern shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura
, where it opens out into the Gulf of Aden
. The population in 2003 was about 8,300 inhabitants.
Obock was originally significant as the site of the first French
colony in the region, established by treaty with the local Afar
rulers on March 11, 1862. The French interest was in having a coaling station for steamships, which would become especially important upon the opening of the Suez Canal
in 1869. (Up to that time French ships had to buy coal at the British port of Aden
across the gulf, an unwise dependency in case of war.)
By 1885, Obock had 800 inhabitants and a school. However, the anchorage was more exposed than the site of Djibouti
on the south side of the Gulf of Tadjoura, and the colonial administration moved there in 1894. Subsequently the population of Obock declined.
At the end of 2002, 1500 United States Marines came to Obock to train for the 2003 invasion of Iraq
.
The town is home to an airstrip
and has ferries to Djibouti City, while mangrove
s lie nearby.
.
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. It is located on the northern shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura
Gulf of Tadjoura
The Gulf of Tadjoura is a gulf or basin of the Indian Ocean in the Horn of Africa. It lies south of the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, or the entrance to the Red Sea, at . Most of its coastline is the territory of Djibouti, except for a short stretch on the southern shore, which is part of the...
, where it opens out into the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In the northwest, it connects with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which is about 20 miles wide....
. The population in 2003 was about 8,300 inhabitants.
Obock was originally significant as the site of the first French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colony in the region, established by treaty with the local Afar
Afar people
The Afar , also known as the Danakil, are an ethnic group in the Horn of Africa. They primarily live in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and in northern Djibouti, although some also inhabit the southern point of Eritrea.-Early history:...
rulers on March 11, 1862. The French interest was in having a coaling station for steamships, which would become especially important upon the opening of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
in 1869. (Up to that time French ships had to buy coal at the British port of Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
across the gulf, an unwise dependency in case of war.)
By 1885, Obock had 800 inhabitants and a school. However, the anchorage was more exposed than the site of Djibouti
Djibouti (city)
The City of Djibouti is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Djibouti, a nation in the Horn of Africa. The biggest settlement on the Gulf of Tadjoura, it lies on a peninsula that separates that basin from the Gulf of Aden.-History:...
on the south side of the Gulf of Tadjoura, and the colonial administration moved there in 1894. Subsequently the population of Obock declined.
At the end of 2002, 1500 United States Marines came to Obock to train for the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
The town is home to an airstrip
Obock Airport
Obock Airport is an airport serving Obock, a city in the Obock Region of Djibouti.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway which is long....
and has ferries to Djibouti City, while mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s lie nearby.
Postage stamps
During its time as a French colony, Obock issued its own postage stamps; for more detail see Postage stamps and postal history of ObockPostage stamps and postal history of Obock
During its time as a French colony, Obock issued its own postage stamps. At first the inhabitants used the general stamps of the French Colonies, but in 1892 they were overprinted with "OBOCK". Later in the year some of these were also surcharged with values from 1 centime to 5 francs...
.