Bab-el-Mandeb

Bab-el-Mandeb (i.e. 'the gate of tears'), so called from the danger arising to small vessels from strong currents, is the name of the strait between Arabia and the continent of Africa, by which the Red Sea is connected with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The Arabian peninsula here throws out a cape, bearing the same name as the strait, rising to the height of 865 feet. About 20 miles distant from this cape stands the wall-like coast of Africa, rising in Râs es Sean to the height of over 400 feet. Within the straits, but nearer to Arabia, lies the bare rocky island of Perim (q.v.), since 1857 occupied by the British as a fort; its guns command the entrance to the Red Sea. The strait on the east side of this island is called the Little Strait, and that on the west the Great Strait.