Al-Mandab

Al-Mandab stands at the southwestern end of the Arabian Peninsula, beside the strait that joins the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The volcanic island of Mayyun, also called Perim, divides the passage into a narrow channel by the Yemeni shore and a wider channel toward Africa. Ships travelling between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean must pass these shores, making this dry coastal point a conspicuous landmark on an ancient maritime route.