Exploring Ethiopia
Discover one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Its rich culture, exciting history, and unique landscapes and places make Ethiopia one of the most fascinating and unknown countries in the world. Explore
Capital city: Addis Ababa
Population ( 2017): 105 million
Surface area: 1.13 million sq km (437,794 sq miles)
Languages: Amharic (official language) and Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic. English is also the administrative language.
Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Muslim and Protestant Christianity
Topography: Ethiopia has an elevated central plateau varying in height from 2,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level. There are around 25 mountains whose peaks reach over 4,000 meters in the North and the Centre of the country. The most famous Ethiopian river is the Blue Nile or Abay, which flows a distance of 1,450 kilometres from its source to join the White Nile in Khartoum.
Currency: Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Time: GMT+3
Telephone code: +251
Electric supply: 220 Volts 50 cycles AC (Adapters can be easily found in all major cities)
Life Expectancy: 63 years (men), 67 years (women)
GDP (2019): $240.168 billion (total)
GDP by sector (2015): Agriculture (47%), Industry (10.8%), Services (42.2%)
Ethiopia has a rich cultural heritage and incredible diversity both in its people and its landscapes.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest organised Christian bodies in the world and its heart is in the country’s mountainous north. In Lalibela, Ethiopia’s holiest city, you’ll find Ethiopia’s famous rock churches, some of which sit 40 feet beneath the ground.
Those looking for epic landscapes and incredible natural scenery will not be disappointed. The vast plateaus and craggy peaks of the Simien and Bale mountain ranges are breathtaking and home to much of Ethiopia’s wildlife, including the endangered Walia ibex, the Gelada Baboons and the elusive Ethiopian wolf.
The remarkable Danakil Depression is one of the lowest, hottest and driest places on Earth. Looking like something from another planet, its bubbling lava lakes, vast salt flats and hydrothermal fields in vivid greens, reds and yellows are unlike any other landscape on Earth. The landscape is enough to blow you away, but just as remarkable is the ability of the Afar people to adapt and be able to call this hostile setting home.

ETHIOPIAN HISTORY
400 BC-2nd C AD | The Kingdom of Axum is born and it will become a regional rich trading power. |
300 AD | Coptic Christianity is introduced from Egypt |
1150-1270 | The Zagwe Dynasty rules over the northern highlands, introducing a sense of unity and stability |
1530-31 | Conquer of much Ethiopia by the muslim leader Ahmad Gran |
1818-68 | The regions of Amhara, Gojjam, Tijray & Shoa are conquered by Lij Kasa |
1855 | Kasa becomes Emperor Tewodros II |
1868 | Tewodros commits suicide to avoid capture after being defeated by a British expeditionary |
1889 | The King of Shoa becomes Emperor Menelik II after the death of Yohannes IV while fighting Mahdist forces. Menelik signs a bilateral friendship treaty with Italy which is misunderstood as a protectorate. Addis Ababa becomes the capital of Ethiopia. |
1895-1896 | Italians invade Ethiopia and finally are defeated during the Battle of Adwa in their attempt to conquer the country. |
1913 | Menelik II dies and is succeeded by his grandson Lij Iyasu. |
1916 | Lij Iyasu is deposed and succeeded by Zawditu, Menelik’s daughter, who rules through a regent, Ras Tafari Makonnen. |
1930 | Ras Tafari Makonnen, Haile Selassie, is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. |
1936-1941 | Italian occupation. After an alliance with Britain by Emperor Haile Selassie I, Ethiopian and British forces drive Italian forces out of the country. |
1973-1974 | More than 200,000 people die in Wallo province as a result of famine. |
1974-1991 | The military led by General Teferi Benti push Haile Selassie out and the monarchy ends to establish a socialist state with Colonel Haile Mengistu as president after the death of Benti. During this period known as the “Red Terror” orchestrated by Mengistu, thousands of government opponents die. |
1991-1998 | Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front forces Mengistu to flee the country. |
1993 | Eritrea becomes independent after a referendum. |
FACTS ABOUT ETHIOPIA
1. Become 7 years younger in the land of 13 months of sunshine.
Ethiopia is the only Christian country that still follows the Julian calendar and consequently it is seven years and eight months behind the rest of the Christian world (which follows the revised Gregorian calendar). Thus, the Ethiopian calendar consists of 13 months: 12 months of 30 days and another month of five (or six days in leap years) days duration
2. The only country in Africa with its own alphabet
Even though there are more than 80 different languages spoken in Ethiopia, Amharic is the official language, a semiotic language descending from Ge’ez, the language of ancient Axum which is still used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Amharic has its own alphabet, consisting of 209 symbols and 25 letter variants. Other regional languages such as Oromigna, Tigrinya and Arabic are also wide spoken, along with English, used in the administration and for secondary education.
3. Teff: one of the healthiest cereals
Teff is the grain cereal used to make the Ethiopian staple dish known as injera. It is believed to have originated between 4,000 and 1,000 years B.C. in Ethiopia. Teff is the smallest grain in the world and is becoming very popular among Western countries for being a great gluten-free energy source. Injera is a unique flatbread with a slightly spongy texture made out of teff flour and accompanied with different sorts of wot or stews and its eating ritual consists of taking a piece in your hand and using it to scoop the accompaniment.
4. The largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Africa
Teff is the grain cereal used to make the Ethiopian staple dish known as injera. It is believed to have originated between 4,000 and 1,000 years B.C. in Ethiopia. Teff is the smallest grain in the world and is becoming very popular among Western countries for being a great gluten-free energy source. Injera is a unique flatbread with a slightly spongy texture made out of teff flour and accompanied with different sorts of wot or stews and its eating ritual consists of taking a piece in your hand and using it to scoop the accompaniment.
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