Ras Bir Lighthouse

Ras Bir stands on a low sand point east of Obock, a lighthouse marking the approach to the Bab-el-Mandeb with a long pale beach running away from it in both directions and almost nothing else in view. Green turtles nest along this stretch. The point is flat, exposed and windy, and the light is one of the few structures on the northern coast. The point marks the northern side of the entrance to the Gulf of Tadjoura, which is why a light was put here at all. Sand movement along the spit is constant and the shoreline shifts noticeably between years.

History

The first lighthouse at Ra's Bir, a two-storey square tower completed in 1889, now serves as a radar station. A new lighthouse beside it came into service in 1952: a ribbed tower 50 m tall, white with a red upper band, standing in a walled compound with the keeper's house, with a focal height of 74 m above sea level and a light, two white flashes every ten seconds, visible for 20 nautical miles. It marks the southern end of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and is maintained by the port authority of Djibouti (Wikipedia, Ra's Bir Lighthouse).

What you'll find

• The lighthouse - the light marking the approach to the strait.
• The sand point - the low spit the tower stands on.
• The turtle nesting - green turtles using the beaches along the point.
• The emptiness - a coast with almost nothing built on it.

When to go

November to March is the cool season. Turtles nest through much of the year with seasonal peaks. Summer heat is extreme.

What to expect

The tower is closed and the visit is exterior only. There is no shade and no facilities. The track out is sandy and needs care.

Nearby

Obock is west, and Godoria is northwest.

Key facts