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Geography of Ethiopia

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A map of Ethiopia
Location of Ethiopia

Elevation is generally highest just before the point of descent to the Great Rift Valley, , but chiefly in the Galla regions. Squirrels and hares are numerous, as are several kinds of monkeys, notably the guereza, gelada, guenon and dog-faced baboon. They range from the tropical lowlands to heights of 3,000 m (9,843 ft).

[[Birds n] are very numerous, and many of them remarkable for the beauty of their plumage. Great numbers of eagles, vultures, hawks, bustards and other birds of prey are met with; and partridges, duck, teal, guineafowl, sandgrouse, curlews, woodcock, snipe, pigeons, thrushes and swallows are very plentiful. A fine variety of ostrich is commonly found. Among the birds prized for their plumage are the marabout, crane, heron, blacks bird, parrot, jay and hummingbirds of extraordinary brilliance,

Among insects the most numerous and useful is the bee, honey everywhere constituting an important part of the food of the inhabitants. Of an opposite class is the locust. There are thousands of varieties of butterflies and other insects. Snakes are not numerous, but several species are venomous.

Natural resources and land use

Ethiopia has small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, and natural gas.[1] It has extensive hydropower potential.[1]

Of the total land area, about 20 percent is under cultivation, although the amount of potentially arable land is larger.[1] Only about 10 to 15 percent of the land area is presently covered by forest as a result of rapid deforestation during the last 30 years.[1] Of the remainder, a large portion is used as pasturage. Some land is too rugged, dry, or infertile for agriculture or any other use.[1]

Environmental issues

Main article: Environmental issues in Ethiopia

Disputed border with Eritrea

The border between Ethiopia and Eritrea has never been precisely demarcated.[1] Between 1998 and 2000, the two countries fought a war over the issue, which involves quite small enclaves along the northern segment of their border, including the tiny village of Badme and the enclave of the Irob people.[1] In 2002 an international boundary commission delimited the border.[1]

Although both nations agreed to accept its decision, Ethiopia has refused to accept the commission’s findings in full, much to the consternation of the Eritrean government.[1] The central section of Ethiopia’s border with Somalia also has never been fully demarcated and is only provisional.[1] Questions remain about the precise location of small parcels along the border with Sudan as well.[1]

Statistics

Location
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates
8°00′N 38°00′E / 8.000°N 38.000°E / 8.000; 38.000
Map references
Africa
Area
  • Total: 1,127,127 km²
  • Land: 1,119,683 km²
  • Water: 7,444 km²
Land boundaries
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
None (landlocked)
Climate
Tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain
High plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes
Natural resources
Small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Land use
  • Arable land: 15.35%
  • Permanent crops: 1.14%
  • Other: 83.51% (2012 est.)
Irrigated land
2,896 km² (2003)
Total renewable water resources
122 km3 (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
  • total: 5.56 km3/yr (13%/1%/86%)
  • per capita: 80.5 m3/yr (2005)
Natural hazards
Geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment - current issues
Deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
Environment - international agreements
Geography - note
Landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ethiopia
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.
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