Which lake is the lowest point on the African continent?

The lake that marks the lowest point on the African continent is Lake Assal in Djibouti.

Lake Assal lies about 155 metres below sea level in the Afar Triangle, a geologically active region where the African and Arabian tectonic plates are pulling apart. It occupies a closed depression near the western end of the Gulf of Tadjoura, with no outlet to the sea.

Because water leaves mainly through evaporation, dissolved minerals and salt accumulate in the basin. Lake Assal is therefore extremely saline, and large white salt flats surround its brine-filled central area. The lake is roughly 19 kilometres long and has a liquid surface area of about 54 square kilometres.

A frequent confusion involves the Dead Sea, which is much lower but lies in Asia, not Africa. Lake Assal is also often described as the third-lowest point on Earth after the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Its name means “Honey Lake” in Arabic.