The strategic importance of the Gulf of Aden is growing. Switzerland has real interests there, but not much in the way of political influence. It is trying to gain some by being a good neighbour – such as helping with coral reefs. Nowhere in the world are there such beautiful coral reefs as off the coast of Djibouti, a small state on the Horn of Africa, at the southern end of the Red Sea. Here on the Gulf of Tadjoura dark volcanic mountains rise into the air, and only the odd sailboat is to be seen out on the sea. But under water there is a wonderful world to be explored. The coral reefs in shimmering shapes and colours host an amazing wealth of natural life. Two years ago this submarine world was the object of a scientific expedition in which Switzerland took part. Diving and taking samples of the unique vegetation has kept researchers from several countries busy. The samples are now being studied by the Transnational Red Sea Center at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ...
