What continent is Ethiopia on. Ethiopia: country and its description
- an African country, but against the general background, it is noticeably distinguished by the uniqueness of its culture and traditions.
So, Ethiopian writing is more than 2000 years old. The ancestors of the current Ethiopians learned to write as early as the 5th-4th centuries BC, and today the Ethiopian alphabet is considered one of the most complex; even the computer keyboard layout has several options.
Another amazing fact: in Ethiopia, adherents of various religions coexist relatively peacefully. Christians make up more than 80% of believers, and more than 70% of them are Orthodox. The rest - Muslims, Jews, animists (believers in nature spirits) and other smaller concessions - try to live in peace and avoid conflict, although this is not always easy. There is no official religion in Ethiopia, but the country's Constitution guarantees freedom of religion; the government often has to actively work to prevent tensions from arising, and it copes with this quite successfully.
Where is Ethiopia
Ethiopia is located in northeast Africa, and has no access to the sea, although it is very close to it: in several places the coast of the Red Sea is just over 100 km away.
The country has many neighbors. In the north - Eritrea: after its separation, access to the sea was lost; in the northeast - Djibouti, a state whose capital has now become the only seaport for Ethiopia. In the east - borders with Somalia and Somaliland - a small unrecognized state; in the northwest - with Sudan, in the southwest - with South Sudan.
Climate and weather in Ethiopia
Ethiopia also stands out for its relief features: in Africa, it is considered the “most mountainous” country. The Ethiopian Highlands occupies more than half of the territory. This has a decisive influence on the climate: it is wetter and milder than it could be. After all, the country is located in hot zones - tropical and subequatorial. In the east, where the territories are flat, it is much drier and hotter, but the subequatorial climate is considered to be predominant.
There are no such sharply opposite temperatures at different times of the year, as in other countries, in Ethiopia: in winter, the air is 6-7 ° C colder than in summer. But the time of day is another matter. The difference between day and night temperatures can be as much as 15°C, so you should always have both "summer" and "winter" clothing with you. It rains in April and May, and then in October and November; the coldest time is from November to February: it can even drop below 0°C.
The main attractions of Ethiopia
The capital of Addis Ababa is a city with a mild and even climate, famous for the fact that many people of different nationalities and religions live in it. The city is sometimes called the “African Paris”, and also one of the high-mountain capitals of the world, with the highest point of 3000 m. There are many interesting museums in Addis Ababa, but the National Museum is considered the main one, where you can see the fossil remains of a distant ancestor modern people- Australopithecus, considered the oldest in the world.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is central in Ethiopia, but the main Orthodox church of the capital is the Cathedral of St. George. It is small - for about 200 people, an unusual octagonal shape; built in honor of St. George, after the victory over the Italian invaders at the end of the 19th century.
Cultural attractions include the Mercato market, known far beyond the borders of the country: it is even considered the largest on the entire continent. Located in the open air, it is filled with many different goods: about 13 thousand merchants work here, more than 7 thousand outlets, and you can buy everything from livestock to the best coffee in the world - after all, Ethiopia is its homeland.
It is interesting that there is a monument to Pushkin here - the only one in Africa, and on the street of his own name. However, this is not so surprising: it is possible that the poet's ancestors were indeed Ethiopians, although this has not been proven for sure.
Generally historical heritage for African country surprisingly rich: even BC. e. Ancient civilizations flourished in Ethiopia.
Aksum is widely known - the main historical monument of the north of the country, which was the center of a great and rich empire 3000 years ago. Most of the legendary palaces, including the palaces of the Queen of Sheba, are now ruins, but everything is arranged in such a way that it still attracts tourists.
Not very far from Aksum is the Debre Damo Monastery with a 16th century church. To get into it, you need to climb a rope ladder; women are not allowed there.
The Yeha Temple, dated by scientists to the 7th century BC, and also located quite close to Aksum, deserves a separate description. Let's just say that it was built so perfectly and geometrically ideally that not only historians are interested in it, but also ufologists, who believe that it could not have done without an alien mind. The temple was built of sandstone, without mortar: what remains of its walls makes a strong impression on many modern builders.
In the north of the country there is the city of Lalibela, famous for its churches carved high into the rocks. Almost all the inhabitants here are Orthodox. There are 13 churches, and they are all interconnected; their architectural style is unique, some of them are active. Every year thousands of pilgrims flock here: Lalibela, thanks to these unique buildings, is included in the UNESCO List.
Gondar is also a city in the north of the country, and also legendary, with many palaces built mainly from the 17th to the 19th century. Palaces are like castles; in their architecture, one can note Arabic, Indian, and European features of the Baroque style. The fortress of Fasil Gebbi is especially famous: in the 17th century it was the imperial residence, and Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia.
Harer is a Muslim city that arose in the 16th century, for a long time it was an important religious and shopping mall. There are 99 mosques here; the historical center is surrounded by ancient walls. The Coptic Church (Copts are Christians, descendants of Egyptians), the governor's palace and craft workshops are interesting: in local shops you can buy many beautiful products made by local craftsmen. Even in Harare there is a completely exotic custom that shocks European tourists. With the onset of night, flocks of hyenas are “invited” to the streets of the city: animals patrol the streets, and local residents consider this a boon. In Ethiopia, hyenas have long been considered protectors from evil spirits, and they are wonderful orderlies: problems with food waste are solved quickly and easily.
Ethiopia (in the Bible - כּוּשׁ, Kush; in rabbinic literature also חַבָּשׁ, Khabbash; in modern Hebrew, as a rule, אֶתְיוֹפִּיָּה) is a state in East Africa.
In ancient times
In Gen. 2:13 Cush - the country washed by the river Gihon flowing out of paradise; in Gen. 10:6 (the so-called table of nations) Cush and Mizraim (Egypt) - the sons of Ham; in the same place (Genesis 10:8-12) it is said that one of the children of Cush was Nimrod - “a strong hunter before the Lord”, the ancestor of the Assyrians (see Assyria) and the Babylonians (see Babylon).
In II Ch. 19:9 and Is. 37:9 mentions the king of Kush, Tirhaka; in II Chr. 14:8-14 it is stated that the king of Judah Asa (late 10th - early 9th century BC) fought against the king of Kush Zerah who invaded his country and defeated him at the battle of Maresh. The veracity of this account is doubtful; if there are real events behind it, Kush here hardly means Ethiopia).
From the end of the 19th century Yemenite Jews from Aden and Ashkenazi Jews (subjects of European states) settled in Ethiopia; both established communities in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
During the period of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1935–41), the communities disintegrated. The subsequently restored Yemenite community of Addis Ababa exists to this day, it includes several dozen people, they have their own synagogue and cemetery (in recent decades, Ethiopian Jews have also been buried there).
Relations with Israel
In 1936, when Ethiopia was occupied by Italian troops, the head of the Ethiopian state, Emperor Haile Selassie I, his family and court fled to Eretz Israel and settled in Jerusalem, where the emperor spent about a year, and many of his entourage - 4-5 years .
In 1941, Jews from Eretz Israel, who served in parts of the British army, took part in the hostilities in Ethiopia; important role C. O. Wingate played in the liberation of the country (at his request, several fighters of the Hagana were seconded to him, who at one time fought in the ranks of the Special Night Companies he created in Eretz Israel).
In 1947, the Ethiopian delegation to the United Nations abstained from voting on a draft resolution on the partition of Palestine. In 1948, Ethiopia recognized Israel de facto. The Ethiopian consulate in West Jerusalem, which opened during the period of the British Mandate, continued to operate after Israel's independence; in 1956, the Israeli consulate began to operate in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
In 1960 Empress Menem made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; in the same year, Ethiopia was paid an official visit by M. Dayan, then - Minister Agriculture Israel; in 1961 the country was visited by Golda Meir, then the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In September 1961, Ethiopia recognized Israel de jure, and full diplomatic relations were established between the two states.
In the 1950s - early 1970s. Israeli-Ethiopian economic cooperation was successfully developing: with the participation of Israel, a cannery, a pharmaceutical factory and other enterprises were built in Ethiopia; Israel provided Ethiopia with assistance in training specialists in various fields: in the development of agriculture, transport, medicine, exploration of minerals and water resources.
After the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran (connecting the Gulf of Eilat with the Red Sea) was restored as a result of the Sinai campaign of 1956, Ethiopian merchant ships began to regularly visit Eilat, Israeli - Massawa and Assab (Ethiopian ports on the Red Sea coast). In 1970, a direct line was opened air traffic between D. Ben Gurion Airport in Lod and Addis Ababa.
Immediately after the end of the Yom Kippur War (October 1973), Ethiopia, following the decision of the Organization of African States, severed diplomatic relations with Israel. The military regime that came to power in Ethiopia after the overthrow of the monarchy (September 1974) was guided by the Soviet Union and therefore had no official contacts with Israel; the Ethiopian delegation to the UN consistently voted for the anti-Israeli resolutions.
In 1984, due to a sharp deterioration in the economic situation in Ethiopia, a catastrophic drought and political instability, thousands of Ethiopian Jews concentrated on the Ethiopian-Sudanese border. In October 1984, Israel carried out an operation during which 14,000 Jews were airlifted to Israel. When Operation Moshe became known, the Ethiopian government accused Israel of "kidnapping Ethiopian citizens".
But over time, a difficult and protracted confrontation with neighboring Islamic countries (Somalia, Sudan), an uprising of Muslim separatists in Eritrea (the northwestern part of Ethiopia, now an independent state) and a gradual weakening of the communist camp (which led in the 2nd half of the 1980s to its collapse) prompted the Ethiopian leadership to tacitly turn to Israel for help. This help was provided; according to some reports, it also included the supply of weapons.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The name of the country comes from the ancient Greek name Aythopia, which is derived from "aythopi", which means "burnt faces".
Ethiopia Square. 1133882 km2.
Ethiopian population. 99.39 million people (
Ethiopian GDP. $55.61 billion (
Location of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a state in Eastern. In the northeast it borders with and, in the east and southeast - with, in the southwest - with, in the west and northwest - with.
Administrative division Ethiopia. The state is divided into 14 provinces.
Ethiopian form of government. Republic.
Ethiopian head of state. The president.
Ethiopia's highest legislature. Federal Assembly (bicameral parliament - Council of the Federation and Council of the People
Ethiopia's supreme executive body. Government.
Major cities in Ethiopia. Dire-Dawa, Gonder, Nazret.
Official language of Ethiopia. Amharic.
Religion in Ethiopia. 50% - adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, 40% - Muslims, 10% - pagans.
Ethnic composition of Ethiopia. 40% Oromo, 25% Amhara. In total, over 100 nationalities and nationalities.
Ethiopian currency. Ethiopian birr = 100 cents.
Climate of Ethiopia. The climate of Ethiopia depends on the height above sea level. At a level below 1830 m above sea level, there is a tropical zone, where the average annual temperature is about + 27 ° С. At an altitude of 1830-2440 m above sea level, there is a subtropical zone - here the average annual temperature is + 22 ° C, above lies a zone with about + 16 ° C. The rainy season usually lasts from mid-June to September, sometimes a short rainy season occurs in February or March. The average annual rainfall is from 200-500 mm to 1000-2000 mm in the mountains. Afar is one of the hottest places on earth.
Ethiopian fauna. Among the representatives of the animal world (rather rich, despite the extermination) can be called a giraffe, leopard, hippopotamus, lion, elephant, antelope, rhinoceros, lynx, jackal, hyena, monkeys. A large number of birds live here, including an eagle, a falcon, a vulture, an ostrich, a heron, a partridge, a teal. Of the insects, locusts and tsetse flies stand out especially.
But also throughout the Middle East region. Modern name country comes from "Aytopiya", which is translated from Greek means "land of the sunburnt". Full name of the state Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It is located in northeast Africa. From the north, Ethiopia's neighbor is a small Eritrea, formerly part of the state. To the west, the country is bordered by Sudan, in the east with Somalia and Djibouti, a southern part state is adjacent to Kenya.
Ethiopia is the second largest country on the African continent after Nigeria. Representatives of more than 100 nationalities live here. Most of them are Oromo (almost 40%), 32% of the total population are representatives of the Amhara and Tigray tribes, about 9% are Sidamo and other nationalities. In the western part of the country, the Negroid race predominates, as well as Arabs, and in major cities you can meet Italians.
The official language is Amharic (the language of the Semitic tribes). More than 50% of the country's inhabitants are Christians who belong to the Eastern Ethiopian Church. By the way, Ethiopia is the only Christian country in Africa. Approximately 40% of the population identify themselves with the Islamic religion. The rest of the country adheres to traditional beliefs.
Ethiopia cannot boast of a developed industry. Despite the fact that gold, platinum, potash salt, manganese and other natural resources are mined in the country, this state is considered one of the least developed in the world. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. The main part of GDP is precisely the export of amazing Arabica coffee beans. Sesame, tobacco, fruits and sugar cane are also exported.
Today, Ethiopia is a great place for eco-tourism. Beautiful African savannahs and snow-capped highlands cause indescribable delight in every guest of the country.
Capital |
Addis Ababa |
Population |
91,195,675 people (as of 2012) |
1,104,300 km² |
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Population density |
77 people/km² |
Amharic |
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Religion |
Eastern Christianity, Islam |
Form of government |
parliamentary republic |
Ethiopian birr |
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Timezone |
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International dialing code |
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Domain zone |
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Electricity |
Climate and weather
Weather conditions in Ethiopia are subequatorial. In the north of the country, the climate is semi-desert and tropical desert. Interestingly, the climatic conditions of Ethiopia mainly depend on the altitude of the area. So, in the tropical zone, which is located below 1800 m above sea level, all year round the air temperature exceeds +27 °C, and the amount of precipitation is 500 mm. In areas located at an altitude of 1800 m to 2450 m, the average daily air temperature is +22 °C all year round. The amount of precipitation here reaches 1500 mm. Above 2400 m above sea level, there is a temperate climate zone. This area is characterized by an average annual air temperature of more than +16 °C. It should be noted that night frosts are often observed in mountainous regions. Precipitation mainly occurs in the summer months (July-September), although in some parts of the country there is a "small wet season". A small amount of precipitation occurs in March and April. The dry season in Ethiopia lasts from September to early February.
The best time to visit this wonderful country the period from September to February is considered, as well as late spring (April and May). At this time, the thermometer rarely rises to a very high mark, and the absence of heavy rainfall will allow you to enjoy all the beauties of Ethiopia.
Nature
The landscapes of Ethiopia are striking in their diversity. On the territory of the country you can meet the famous African savannas, and the unique beauty of snow-capped mountains, and stunning volcanic cones.
Central and western part Ethiopia occupies a low plateau with a height of no more than 1800 m above sea level. Cones of extinct volcanoes rise above the plateau. Very often in the craters of such formations you can see the most beautiful lakes, often surrounded by dense tropical greenery.
From the Red Sea to the very southern part of Ethiopia lies a fault zone. In the famous Afar depression there is a salt lake Assale, striking the imagination with its unique beauties.
most major river Ethiopia is Abbay, or blue nile, which, following from Lake Tana, forms the most beautiful waterfall in Africa - Tys-Isat.
More than a third of the territory of Ethiopia is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, characterized by poor flora and fauna. The east of the country is covered with grassy savannas, densely overgrown with umbrella-shaped acacias. In the river valleys, as a rule, tropical forests are common with sycamores, palms, milkweeds and wild coffee trees. Animal world Ethiopia is quite diverse. Elephants, lions, antelopes, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, leopards and other animals are found in the savannas. In semi-deserts, ostriches are considered to be the true owner. Eagles, falcons, herons, vultures, partridges and other representatives of the avifauna also live in Ethiopia.
Attractions
The territory of modern Ethiopia is rich in historical, religious and cultural attractions. The most visited cities are Addis Ababa, Gondar and Lalibela.
In Gondar, the city walls and numerous palaces are perfectly preserved, which differ from the traditional buildings of African culture. Near the settlement is a stunning house of the founder of the city Phaseledes. There is a beautiful pond with unique vegetation and a huge pavilion of "cold baths". Deserves special attention Church of Debre-Birhan-Selassie, which is painted with amazing frescoes of the XIII century.
Public transport is represented by buses and taxis. It is worth noting that in Addis Ababa there are two types of taxis: yellow and blue. The first vehicles are aimed at foreign tourists, others are used for transportation local residents. Yellow taxis tend to be somewhat more expensive. The average cost of a trip within the city center does not exceed $4. And for taxi trips out of town it is worth preparing about $ 60-80.
Railway communication in Ethiopia is very poorly developed. Here lies the only branch on which the passenger service Addis Ababa - Djibouti is organized. It should be noted that the railway rolling stock is significantly outdated and practically does not meet international standards. As a rule, traveling to Djibouti by rail is more popular than air travel due to their high cost. The price of train tickets depends on the class of the carriage and is approximately $10-40. Passenger trains in the direction of Djibouti are constantly overcrowded, so it is necessary to purchase tickets in advance before traveling.
Connection
AT recent times in Ethiopia, communication and telecommunications systems began to develop rapidly. Thus, a fixed telephone network was installed in all major cities of the country. On city streets there are special machines from which you can make a long-distance call. And for a conversation on international communications, you need to contact the post office. Also, devices that allow you to make an international call are installed in all major hotels and inns and at Bole Airport. The cost of a call within the country is about $0.25, and the price of a minute of international calls does not exceed $1.
Cellular communications of the GSM 900 standard in Ethiopia are provided by several operators at once. It should be noted that roamings of the world's leading mobile operators, including the Russian companies MTS and Beeline, are perfectly supported in Ethiopia.
The development of network technologies in the country is not particularly pleasing to foreign visitors to Ethiopia. In large cities, there are several dozen Internet cafes. True, they often look like small dark rooms with old computers. But for the local population, this is enough. The connection speed is incredibly slow, and the connection itself is interrupted quite often. The cost of using the Internet in Ethiopia is about $2 per hour.
Safety
Ethiopia is considered a relatively safe country to travel. However, some regions are not controlled by the government of the country. Major crimes against foreign citizens considered pretty a rare occurrence. But petty theft, robbery, fraud take place in crowded places, and especially in local markets.
As in most tropical African countries, Ethiopia has great amount infectious and viral diseases. You should not come to this country without proper vaccinations against yellow fever, malaria, trachoma, schistosomiasis, etc. It is worth noting that HIV infection is widespread in Ethiopia, with more than one million people infected with this disease.
The sanitary situation in Ethiopia leaves much to be desired. During a drought, there is a certain risk of lack of water even in large cities. Do not drink raw water. Many experts recommend drinking only bottled water, although this is a rarity in extreme heat. To prevent infection with helminths, vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, and fish and meat should generally be subjected to heat treatment.
Business climate
The main types of successful business in Ethiopia, according to experts, are the cultivation and production of coffee, as well as tourism. Moreover, the last branch has received intensive development quite recently. To attract foreign tourists, the country's authorities facilitated visa regime and allowed access to previously closed areas. Noticing the increasing interest of tourists in the country's natural attractions every year, foreign investors make decisions to finance the tourism business in favor of Ethiopia.
Real estate
Many experts confirm that buying real estate in Ethiopia today is a profitable investment option. Most buyers prefer to purchase housing in large cities of the country for subsequent resale. Some buyers purchase large cottages for arranging cozy hotels in them. The cost of one square meter of housing in the city center is about $ 800, and in a residential area you can buy real estate at a price of $ 600 per square meter.
Often visitors to Ethiopia prefer to live in rented apartments. Interestingly, the cost of renting a one-room apartment in a residential area of Addis Ababa will cost the tenant only $ 300 per month.
Although Ethiopia is considered a safe country, it will not be superfluous to follow the basic rules of behavior in Ethiopian society. It should be noted that for citizens of Russia, movement in Ethiopia is not limited. However, the country's authorities strongly recommend not to travel alone in areas neighboring Somalia.
All travelers should remember that the population of Ethiopia is extremely religious. Many public laws are based on the norms of religion. So, in the country it is not customary to show tender feelings towards their relatives. You should not speak openly about religion in public places. Such discussions cause the inhabitants of Ethiopia not very friendly emotions towards the tourist.
When purchasing any souvenirs for your relatives, you must remember that in Ethiopia it is forbidden to export gold and diamonds, ivory, as well as any products made from it. Rhino horns and skins of wild animals are also subject to seizure at customs. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to export coffee beans if you do not have special documents confirming the purchase.
Visa regime
To visit Ethiopia, you need a visa, which can be obtained both at the embassy of the country, and directly in Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. To apply for a visa at the consular section of the embassy, you must present a copy of your internal passport and a foreign passport, the validity of which will expire no earlier than three months after entering the country. It is also necessary to fill out a visa application form in English or Russian, attach an invitation and one color photograph. The consular fee is $60.
Citizens of Russia can apply for an entry visa directly at Bole Airport in the capital of Ethiopia. To do this, you must submit two photographs and fill out a questionnaire. After that, a consular fee of $ 100 is paid. A visa is issued for 30 days.
For detailed advice, you can contact the Embassy of the Federative Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Moscow at: 120110, Moscow, per. Orlovo-Davydovsky, 6.