Mystical Ethiopia

Ethiopia covers an area of about 1,130,000 sq km (about 436,300 sq mi). The heart of the country is a high tableland, known as the Ethiopian Plateau, that covers more than half the total area of the country. The plateau is split diagonally in a northeastern to southwestern direction by the Great Rift Valley. Although the average elevation of the plateau is about 1675 m (about 5500 ft), it is cut by many rivers and deep valleys, some of which are 610 m (2000 ft) below the level of the plateau. The area is capped by mountains, the highest of which is Ras Dashen (4620 m/15,157 ft). These heights and indentations occur in northern Ethiopia, in the region surrounding Lake T’ana (the lake in which the Blue Nile rises). The northeastern edges of the plateau are marked by steep escarpments, which drop some 1220 m (about 4000 ft) or more to the Denakil Desert. Along the western fringe the plateau descends less abruptly to the desert of Sudan. Along the southern and southwestern limits, the plateau lowers toward Lake Turkana (formerly called Lake Rudolf).

Natural Resources

The resources of Ethiopia are primarily agricultural. The plateau area is fertile and largely undeveloped. The wide range of soils, climate, and elevations permits the production of a diversified range of agricultural commodities. A variety of mineral deposits exist; iron, copper, petroleum, salt, potash, gold, and platinum are the principal ones that have been commercially exploited.

Awash National Park

Awash national Park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. Featuring the 1,800-metre high Fantalle Volcano, extensive mineral hot-springs, and extraordinary volcanic formations, this natural treasure is bordered to the south by the Awash River and lies 225 kilometers east of Addis Ababa. The wildlife consists mainly of East African plains animals, but there are now no giraffe or buffalo. Oryx, bateared fox, caracal, aardvark, colobus and green monkeys, Anubis and Hamadryas baboons, klipspringers, leopard, bushbuck, hippopotamus, Soemmering's gazelle, cheetah, kudu and 450 species of bird all live within the park's 720 square kilometers.

Bale Mountains National Park

With their vast moorlands, the lower reaches covered with St John's wort, extensive health, virgin woodlands, pristine mountain streams and alpine climate, the Bale mountains remain an untouched and beautiful world. Rising to a height of more than 4,000 meters, the range borders the southern highlands of Ethiopia. Mount Tullu Deemtu, the highest peak in southern Ethiopia, reaches 4,377 meters. The establishment of 2,400 square-kilometer of Bale Mountains national Park was crucial to the survival of the mountain nyala, Menelik's bushbuck and Simien red fox. This fox is one of the most colorful members of the dog family and more abundant here than anywhere else in Ethiopia. All three endemic animals thrive in this environment, while the nyala in particular can be seen in large numbers. The Bale Mountains offer some fine high-altitude horse and foot trekking, and the streams of the park- which become important rivers further downstream- are well stocked with rainbow and brown trout.

Plants and Animals

The great variations in elevation are directly reflected in the kind of vegetation found in Ethiopia. The lower areas of the tropical zone have sparse vegetation consisting of desert shrubs, thorn bushes, and coarse savanna grasses. In the valleys and ravines almost every form of African vegetation grows profusely. The temperate zone is largely covered with grassland. Afro-alpine vegetation is found on the highest slopes.

The larger species of African wildlife are native to most parts of the country. These include the giraffe, leopard, hippopotamus, lion, elephant, antelope, and rhinoceros. The lynx, jackal, hyena, and various species of monkey are common. Birds of prey include the eagle, hawk, and vulture. Heron, parrot, and such game birds as the snipe, partridge, teal, pigeon, and bustard are found in abundance. Among the many varieties of insects are the locust and tsetse fly.

Soils

The highland of Ethiopia is made up of folded and fractured crystalline rocks capped by sedimentary limestone and sandstone and by thick layers of volcanic lava. The torrential rains of the main rainy season cause severe erosion, especially in areas where all natural vegetation has been cleared. The rains also leach the highland soils of much fertility, particularly those soils overlying crystalline rocks. The volcanic soils of the highland are less readily leached and therefore are more fertile.

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