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| "Ethiopia, Africa" Source: CIA World Factbook, Ethiopia |
Ethiopia, Africa
Ethiopia is the the most populous landlocked nation in the world. It is bordered by six other African nations: Sudan and South Sudan to the West, Kenya to the South, Somalia and Djibouti to the East, and Eritrea to the North. Ethiopia covers the area of 8° 00 N 38° 00 E.1
Longitude and Latitude of Major Cities
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| "Ethiopia Map" Source: CIA World Factbook, Ethiopia |
Awasa 07°02'N 38°28'E
Bahir Dar 11°37'N 37°10'EDese 11°05'N 39°40'E
Dire Dawa 09°35'N 41°45'E
Dolo Odo 04°11'N 42°03'E
Gonder 12°39'N 37°30'E
Harar 09°20'N 42°08'E
Jima 07°40'N 36°47'E
Kebri Dehar 06°45'N 44°17'E
Mek ele 13°33'N 39°30'E
Moyale 03°57'N 37°19'E
Nazret 08°32'N 39°22'E
Coordinates obtained from:
Maps of the World
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| "Tigray Enscarpment" Source: Rod Waddington, Wikimedia Commons, 18 September 2013 These esncarpments, cliffs, provide natural barriers of protection against intrustion |
Ethiopian Climate Zones
The most important geographic feature of Ethiopia is the Great Rift Valley which runs about 4,000 miles from Syria to Mozambique and is between 20 to 60 miles in width.2Most of Ethiopia is situated on the East African Rift and has an average elevation between 1,500-3,000 meters above sea level.3 In fact, Ethiopia only composes about 4% of Africa but it has more than 50% of the continent's land above 2,000 meters and almost 80% of the continent's land above 3,000 meters.4
There are three climate zones in Ethiopia based on the varying elevations which drive weather patterns. The first climate zone is the cool zone, "dega," which covers the highlands and mountains elevated at 2,400 meters or more. 5 These highlands, plateaus, and mountains provide a natural barrier to intrusion and provide protection to species of animals that are not found elsewhere in the world.6 Average daily high temperatures in the dega zones range from near freezing to 16°C (61°F).7
The next climate zone is the "weina dega" or temperate zone and daily high temperatures average between 16°C (61°F) to 30°C (86°F) .8 About 75% of the population lives in this zone and it is the zone most hospitable to agriculture.9
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| "Ethiopia Vegetation" Map. Source: Feza Kupruku, ICE Case Study 246 July 2011 Ethiopian Land Grab |
The map to the left shows the vegetation
of Ethiopia. Most of the population lives in
the Upland Grassland areas. Ethiopia is thought to be one of the main places in which the world's stock of cultivated plants had originated.10
Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Ethiopia; 85% of the nation is engaged in this industry.11
Ethiopia produces and exports coffee (which originated in Ethiopia), leather goods, pulses (a type of legume), oilseeds, beeswax, and tea and has a domestic market for meat and dairy.12
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| "Dallol Volcano in the Denakil Depression." Source: Geology.com http://geology.com/stories/13/dallol/ |
hot zone, "kolla," which consists of areas below 1,500 meters elevation.13 This area covers the deserts, depressions, Eritrean lowlands, and the deep tropical valleys of the Blue Nile and Tekeze Rivers.14
Temperatures in the hot zone are more varied than in the cool and temperate zones.Temperatures can reach up to
50°C (122°F) and ranges from arid to humid depending on the proximity to water.15
Climate Problems
Ethiopia has several problems due its climate and geographical features to include drought, earthquakes, volcanoes, and diseases.
Drought conditions in Ethiopia are a daily concern for its citizens because 85% of the population relies on agriculture for sustenance and income production. When a drought occurs not only do Ethiopians face a shortage of food for consumption they also face a shortage in their income productivity. Droughts in Ethiopia are often deadly as they produce widespread famine; citizens face malnutrition, starvation, sanitary issues due to a lack of fresh water, and diseases. Ethiopia is currently in a severe drought and it is estimated that 10.2 million people are in need of food aid.16
Ethiopia is at great risk for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its position in the Great Rift Valley. As you can see in the picture Ethiopia has a dark red line that bisects the nation; this is because it is situated on top of two major tectonic plates: the East African Plate (Nubian) and the West African Plate (Somalian). To the north of Ethiopia lies the Arabian Plate. All three plates are pulling away from each other. Scientists predict that the dark red region, called the Afar region, will soon be turned into ocean.17
The tectonic plate activity also produces volcanic eruptions. Active volcanoes follow the line of earthquake activity as seen in the picture to the left. Ethiopia has 53 volcanoes; the largest is the Erta Ale volcano located in the Afar region.18
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| Earthquake Risk in Africa: Modified Mercalli Scale Source: Relief Web |
The tectonic plate activity also produces volcanic eruptions. Active volcanoes follow the line of earthquake activity as seen in the picture to the left. Ethiopia has 53 volcanoes; the largest is the Erta Ale volcano located in the Afar region.18
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| Click Here to Enlarge Map Source: World Health Organization |
Ethiopia's greatest threat comes from diseases that are caused by environmental
factors. The top causes of death in Ethiopia that are caused by these diseases
include lower respiratory infections (viral and bacterial), diarrheal diseases,
These diseases are transmitted through contact with, or ingestion of, contaminated
water, food, and soil or are transmitted by insects, animals, and other people.
Diseases in Ethiopia devastate the economy. Experts estimate that the elimination of
tropical diseases in Ethiopia could save the nation around $3.8 billion USD in
1 CIA World Factbook. "Geography: Ethiopia." https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html (accessed May 17, 2016).
2 "Great Rift Valley." New World Encyclopedia. 2015. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Great_Rift_Valley (accessed May 18, 2016).
3 Ofcansky, Thomas P, Laverle Bennette Berry. Library Of Congress. Federal Research Division. "Ethiopia: a Country Study." Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/92000507. (Accessed May 18, 2016.)
3 Reader, John. "Africa: A Biography of the Continent." New York: Vintage Books. 1999. 210.
5 Ofcansky. 2016, 77.
6 Reader. 1999, 211.
7 Ofcansky. 2016, 77.
9 Ofcansky. 2016, 79.
10 Reader. 1999, 211.
11 "Ethiopia Agriculture." Encyclopedia of the Nations. 2016. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Ethiopia-AGRICULTURE.html (accessed May 18, 2016).
12 "Ethiopia Agriculture."
13 Ofcansky. 2016, 77.
14 Ofcansky. 2016, 77.
15 Ofcansky. 2016, 77.
16 "Ethiopia Drought - 2015 -2016." Relief Web. http://reliefweb.int/disaster/dr-2015-000109-eth (accessed May 19, 2016).
17 "Triple Junction; The Red Sea/East Africa." The Geological Society. http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Plate-Tectonics/Chap3-Plate-Margins/Divergent/Triple-Junction (accessed May 19, 2016).
18 "Global Volcanism Program." Smithsonian Institute. http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=221080 (accessed May 19, 2016).
19 "Global Health - Ethiopia." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.. http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/ethiopia/default.htm (accessed May 19, 2016).
20 Robel, Johannes. "Eliminating NTDs Enables Ethiopia to Save $3.8Bln USD." Ethiopia Online. http://onlineethiopia.net/2016/05/eliminating-ntds-enables-ethiopia-save-3-8bln-usd/ (accessed May 19, 2016).
