The landscape of Djibouti is varied and extreme, ranging from rugged mountains in the north to a series of low desert plains separated by parallel plateaus in the west and south. Located at the convergence of the African and Arabian tectonic plates, the territory is geologically active. Slight tremors are frequent, and much of the terrain is littered with basalt from past volcanic activity.
Rainfall is rare, and vegetation is minimal.
There are no regularly flowing surface watercourses in the republic. Temperatures increase and humidity drops in midsummer as the arid khamsin wind blows off the inland desert. The country's wildlife includes antelopes, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, and ostriches. Offshore, Djibouti's waters teem with many species of marine life, including tuna, barracuda, and grouper. Outlying towns are small trading centres that experience periodic population increases as camel caravans and sheep and goat herders encamp.