What can you tell me about Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa having its own calendar, alphabet and clock. At 435,071 square miles (1,127,127 km²), Ethiopia is the world's 27th-largest country (after Colombia ). It is comparable in size to Bolivia , and is slightly less than twice the size of Texas . The major portion of Ethiopia lies on the Horn of Africa, which is the eastern-most part of the African landmass. Bordering Ethiopia is Sudan to the west, Djibouti and Eritrea to the north, Somalia to the east, and Kenya to the south. Ethiopia is divided into nine ethnically-based administrative states ( kililoch , sing. kilil ) and subdivided into sixty-eight zones and two chartered cities ( astedader akababiwoch , sing. astedader akababi ): Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa (subdivisions 1 and 5 in the map, respectively). It is further subdivided into 550 woredas and six special woredas.

Is Ethiopia really the cradle of mankind? What can you tell me about Lucy ?

Lucy is a 3.5 million years old female skeleton, which is among the important archaeological discoveries that make that make Ethiopia to have the prestigious title of 'the cradle of mankind'. It is a complete direct hominid fossil discovered in the north - eastern part of Ethiopia at the place called Hadar. Now It is open to tourists at the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa . So the fact that the most crucial discoveries, including the Lucy's as well as the resent findings of Selam, assures the country's being the cradle of mankind.

What can you tell me about the people of Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is considered to be the' mosaic of cultural diversity. The population of Ethiopia is estimated to be about 78 million. It is the home of more than 80 ethnic groups. Based on the language they speak, they can be divided into Semitic, Hamitic, Nilotic and Omotic stocks. Despite their diversity, Ethiopians are characterized with peace, hospitality and struggle to develop. The Ethiopians, often called the 'Habesha' are generally sociable and friendly, not at all hostile to tourists. Ethiopians are proud of their culture and civilization, which pre-date those of Europe. They are known for their unforgettable hospitality and well-deserved cultures.

I want to taste the national foods and drinks of your country?

A wide variety of different dishes are available in Ethiopia and most of them are unique to the country so you have to familiarize yourself first with the names of different dishes. You can choose from the spicy and hot Doro Wot, Kitfo, or Key Wot to less spicy dishes like Alicha Wot you can get these foods virtually anywhere in the country and portions are generous and very cheap. There are also home made and fabricated local drinks for you to choose from Araki- a strong alcoholic beverage made from millet and maize, Tej - a mead like drink made from honey and Tela - locally brewed beer from maize, wheat and barely and Guder- the Ethiopian wine.

What is the base of the Ethiopia economy?

Ethiopia's economy is predominantly agricultural. The highlands are very fertile, which contain many large rivers with enormous untapped potential for irrigation projects. About 90 per cent of the population earns their living from the land, mainly as subsistence farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy and the principal exports from this sector are coffee, oil seeds, pulses, flowers, vegetables, sugar and foodstuffs for animals. There is also a thriving livestock sector, exporting carrel on the hoof and hides and skins. 25% of the populations grow coffee and it accounts for 55% of Ethiopia's exports.

What can you tell me about the topography of Ethiopia?

A volcanically formed central plateau, isolated on three sides by low- lying desert dominates the Ethiopian landscape. The central plateau, often referred to as the Ethiopian highlands, has an average altitude of above 2,000m and includes 20 peaks of 4,000m or higher. The Ethiopia highlands are dramatically mountainous, no more than where they are bisected by the Rift valley, which starts at the Red sea, then continues through the Denakil depression and through southern Ethiopia to Mozambique in Southern Africa. The part of the Rift valley, south of Addis Ababa, is notable for its string of eight lakes. The most extensive mountain ranges on the highlands are the Semien, which lie directly north of Gondar, and Bale, which lies in the southern highlands to the east of the Rift Valley. Mount Ras Dashen in the Semien is at 4,533 m, the fourth highest peak in Africa. The highlands also form the source of four major river systems. The nest known of these is the Blue Nile or Abbay, which starts at Lake Tana in the northwest and supplies nine- tenths of the Nile's water, which eventually reaches Egypt's Nile valley.

What is the climate in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia shows a wide climatic variation, ranging from the peaks of the Semien and Bale, which receive periodic snowfall, to regular daytime temperatures of over 500 C in the Denakil Desert As a rule, the highland has a temperate climate and average day time temperature of 160C. Due to their proximity to the Equator, the eastern lowlands and far south is dray and hot. The western lowlands are moist and hot, making them one part of the country that feels truly tropical. The southern rift valley, much of which is at the relatively high altitude of 1.500m, is temperate to hot and seasonally moist. The general precipitation pattern is that the bulk of the rain in the highlands and Rift valley falls between mid-June and early October. The rainy season in the Rift Valley generally starts and ends a few weeks earlier than in the highlands. The northeastern highlands have a less reliable rainy season than other highland parts of Ethiopia. In normal rainy season the highlands receive an average rainfall of 1,000mm. From a tourist's point of view, rain tends to fall in dramatic storms, which end as suddenly as they start a situation that is infinitely easier for travel than are days of protracted drizzle.

What dose thirteen months of sunshine mean?

Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five days (six days on leap year). You can see the sun every day of the year That is why we call our country- a country where the sun shines thirteen months. You will be

What is the time difference in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia has a different time calculating system and three hours ahead of Green witch Mean time (GMT). The Ethiopian day is calculated in a manner similar to that in many equatorial countries, where day and night is always the same length. Time remains constant through the year counting starts from western 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Western 7 a.m. is there fore one o'clock, noon is 6 o' clock and 6 p.m. is 12 o'clock. In Addis Ababa, then sunrise and sunset at around 6:30 and 18.45 respectively

What is the best time to visit Ethiopia?

Ethiopia can be visited at any time of the year. People are often advised against traveling during the rainy season, which normally runs from June until early October. But it has its own advantages. The scenery is particularly wonderful green in September and early October. At this time the whole country will be a riot of wild flowers. The ideal time to visit Ethiopia is between October and April, when the rains are over but the countryside is still green.