The Gulf of Aden

Located in the Arabian Sea in between Somalia and Yemen, the Gulf of Aden connects through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait right to the Red Sea. The Gulf of Aden is named Aden which is known to be a port city in Yemen. Aden, the city, is believed to be as old as the history of man and creation. It has also been touted as the possible burial locations of memorial brothers Cain and Abel.

Gulf of Aden Facts for Kids

The Gulf of Aden is believed to have a maximum depth of about 9,000 feet and an average depth believed to be around 1,600 feet.
The Gulf of Aden is also regarded as the Gulf of Berbera. Berbera is a port city that originates from the southern side of the Somali Gulf.
Every year, more than 20,000 ships cross the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aden is considered to be part of the shipping route of the Suez Canal located in the Indian Ocean right between the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Sea. As a result, the Gulf of Aden is a common route for shipping the Persian Gulf oil.
The Gulf of Aden is blessed with major ports including Zeila, Yemen, Djibouti, Bosaso, and Berbera.
In the 2000s, the Gulf of Aden became a common location for pirates. By 2013, the number of pirate attacks had decreased as a result of the tight security measures being introduced and the international navy patrols.
Somaliland, Somalia, Yemen, and Djibouti are some of the countries that border the Gulf of Aden.
In Yemen, Aden, Bir Ali, Mukalla, Balhaf, and Shokra are some of the cities that border the Gulf of Aden. In Djibouti, the Djibouti city is the only city bordering the Gulf of Aden. In Somalia and Somaliland, Berbera, Zelia, Maydh, Bosaso, and Las Khorey are the cities bordering the Gulf of Aden.
While the pirates can select where to have a fight or where to strike the international navy, the surface area of the ocean where events take place actually covers a million square miles. Hence, the navies can put in tight security measures, but they can always count on hope too.
At least, 20 countries are concentrating efforts and naval assets within the Gulf of Aden. The coalition of nations is commanded by the admiral constitute Task Force 151 of the United States which is severely an anti-piracy task force. The Task Force 151 operates in the Gulf of Aden. Also, countries including China and Russia have also made naval asset commitments toward the task, but not as part of the Task Force 151. All countries co-ordinate together but raise their country’s flagged ships to indicate inter-dependency.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the boundary of the Gulf of Aden according to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)?

Answer: The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) defines the boundaries of the Gulf of Aden in the following ways:

On the Northwest – The southern limit of the Red Sea
On the Northwest – The eastern limit of the Gulf of Tadjoura
On the East – The meridian of Cape Guardafui

2. What is the major economic activity on the Gulf of Aden?

Answer: Shipping