The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is located in the north-eastern part
of Africa commonly known as the Horn of Africa. It is strategically proximate
to the Middle East and Europe, together with its easy access to the major ports
of the region, enhances its international trade. It is bordered by the Sudan
in the west, Somalia and Djibouti in the east, Eritrea in the north and Kenya
in the south. The country covers 1,112,000 square kilometres (472,000 sq. miles)
making it roughly as large as France and Spain combined and is five times the
size of the UK.
From the north and running down the centre are the Abyssinian highlands.
To the west of the chain the land drops to the grasslands of Sudan, to the
east to the deserts of the Afar. South of Addis Ababa, the land is dominated
by the Rift Valley Lakes.
Ethiopia's central plateau varies in height between 2,000 and 3,000 metres.
In the north and centre of the country there are some 25 mountains whose
peaks rise over 4,000 metres (13,200ft), the highest being Ras Dashen at
4,543 metres (14,538ft).
You can learn more about Ethiopia by browsing through the topics listed on
the left navigation menu of this page.
|
