Ethiopia by Marina Miller

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Blue Nile Falls

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

The Blue Nile Falls are one of the greatest falls in Africa. It is located in Ethiopian plateau, passing the Blue Nile River. This waterfall is also known as Tis Issat meaning smoking water, as the continuous dropping of water creates a smoke-like bounce of water droplets. The Blue Nile Falls has an enormous height of 37 to 45 meters or around 150 feet and its width is estimated at about half a mile.

Currency

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Ethiopian birr

Hyena Feeding

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

At two different locations in the city you are able to feed the Hyenas every single night. The city of Harar is also extremely interested being the 4th most holy city for Muslims; great museums, food, but not much nightlife.

Fun Fact

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

The oldest fossil skeleton of a human was discovered in Ethiopia. So too was coffee, making Ethiopia the home of mankind and mankind’s favourite wake-up drink.

Raiders of the Lost Ark of Ethiopia?

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

The legendary Ark of the Covenant, the relic said to hold the 10 Commandments, is claimed to be housed in a church in Ethiopia. Only one man, the guardian, is actually allowed to see the ark, so whether or not it is actually there remains a mystery.

Sof Omar Caves

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Sof Omar is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty. At 15.1 kilometres long, Sof Omar Cave is the longest cave in Ethiopia and the largest system of caves in Africa, through which the Weib River flows.

It is said that Allah revealed the opening to this limestone cave system to Sheikh Sof Omar in the 12th century. The sheikh and his followers used the caves as a mosque, a purpose to which the caves were well suited as they had been eroded into columns, buttresses, domes, vaults, and pillars - a natural architectural marvel still used as a gathering place by local Muslims.

More Fun Facts

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Fun Fact

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Ethiopia is about 7.5 years behind the United Kingdom. This is because Ethiopia is the only country in the world to have 13 months in a year. Ethiopians also celebrate New Year in September, meaning that they will only be a couple of months into the year 2008, whilst we near the end of 2015.

Capital City

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Addis Ababa: Population: ~3 million

Geography and Climate

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Ethiopia is in east-central Africa, bordered on the west by the Sudan, the east by Somalia and Djibouti, the south by Kenya, and the northeast by Eritrea. It has several high mountains, the highest of which is Ras Dashan at 15,158 ft. The Blue Nile, or Abbai, rises in the northwest and flows in a great semicircle before entering the Sudan. Its chief reservoir, Lake Tana, lies in the northwest.

Tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Literacy Rate

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

The literacy rate here is 39%, with males on average having a higher literacy rate than women.

Ethnicity

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Oromo 34.4%, Amhara (Amara) 27%, Somali (Somalie) 6.2%, Tigray (Tigrinya) 6.1%, Sidama 4%, Gurage 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Afar (Affar) 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 10.5%

Languages

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:45 UTC

Oromo 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali 6.2%, Tigrigna 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English, Arabic

Religion

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:46 UTC

Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.5%, traditional 2.7%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)

History Timeline

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:46 UTC

Long, long ago - Hominids, early ancestors of humans, live in what is now eastern Ethiopia. It is one of their earliest known locations
400 B.C. - The Kingdom of Aksum, in northern Ethiopia, is born. It evolves into a rich trading nation by the first century A.D
300 A.D. - Christianity becomes the official religion of the Kingdom of Aksum
1150-1270 - The Zagwe Dynasty rules over the northern highlands. The kings introduce a sense of unity and stability
1300s - The Ethiopian holy book, the Kebra Negast (Glory of the Kings), is published. It describes the legendary Queen of Sheba’s visit to the court of King Solomon in Jerusalem in the 10th century B.C.
1888-1892 - The Kefu Qan (Evil Days), one of Ethiopia’s most severe famines, is triggered by a cattle plague and drought
1896 - Ethiopians defeat Italy in the Battle of Adwa. It is the first time Africans defeat a European power’s attempt to conquer land
1930 - Haile Selassie is crowned emperor. During his reign, slavery is abolished and Ethiopia begins to modernize. Coffee becomes a major crop and export
1936-1941 - Italy occupies Ethiopia. Haile Selassie forms an alliance with Britain. In 1941, Ethiopian and British forces drive Italian forces out of Addis Ababa
1974 - The military pushes Haile Selassie out and ends the monarchy. A harsh socialist state is established
1998-2000 - A border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea costs over 70,000 lives. A peace agreement is eventually reached
2011 - The Ethiopia-Eritrea border remains closed

Population

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:46 UTC

~96,506,031 as of 2014

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Flag of Ethiopia

mcmiller0215 — 2017-02-14 04:03:46 UTC