Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa and borders Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. It is characterized by dry bush steppes, volcanic formations and beaches on the Gulf of Aden. The population is mainly Somali and Afar. The country became independent from France in 1977 and has a French-style political system. Places of interest include Lake Assal, one of the most saline lakes on earth, and Lake Abbe, on whose shores are temporary settlements of the nomadic Afar people.