Ethiopia is located. Ethiopia (Ethiopia)

But also in the entire Middle East region. The modern name of the country comes from "Aytiopia", which in translation from Greek means "the country of the sun-baked". Full state name - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia... It is located in northeast Africa. Ethiopia's northern neighbor is a small Eritrea, formerly part of the state. In the west, the country borders on Sudan, in the east - from Somalia and Djibouti, and the southern part of the 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 peoples. In the western part of the country, the Negroid race prevails, as well as Arabs, and in large cities you can find Italians.

The state language is Amharic (the language of the Semitic-speaking 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, potassium 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 bulk of GDP is made up of the export of amazing Arabica coffee beans. Sesame seeds, tobacco, fruits and sugar cane are also exported.

Ethiopia today is a great eco-tourism destination. The beautiful African savannas and snow-capped highlands cause indescribable delight in every guest of the country.

Capital	Addis Ababa
Population	91 195 675 people (for 2012)
	1 104 300 km²
Population density	77 people / km²
	amharic
Religion	eastern Christianity, Islam
Form of government	parliamentary republic
	ethiopian birr
Timezone
International dialing code
Domain zone
Electricity

Climate and weather

Ethiopia's weather conditions are subequatorial. In the north of the country, the climate is semi-desert and tropical desert. Interestingly, Ethiopia's climatic conditions mainly depend on the height 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 territories located at an altitude of 1800 m and up to 2450 m, the average daily air temperature is +22 ° C all year round. The amount of precipitation here reaches 1500 mm. Above 2,400 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 areas. Precipitation mainly occurs in the summer months (July - September), although in some parts of the country there is a “low wet season”. Insignificant 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 amazing country is the period from September to February, 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

Ethiopia's landscapes are striking in their diversity. On the territory of the country, you can find the famous African savannahs, snow-capped mountains of unique beauty, and stunning volcanic cones.

The central and western part of Ethiopia is occupied by a low plateau with a height of no more than 1800 m above sea level. The 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 southernmost part of Ethiopia, there is a fault zone. In the famous afar depression Salt Lake Assale is located, striking the imagination with its unique beauty.

The largest river in Ethiopia is Abbay, or Blue Nilewhich, flowing from lake Tana, forms the most beautiful waterfall in Africa - Tys-Isat.

More than a third of Ethiopia's territory is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, which are notable for their poor flora and fauna. The east of the country is covered with grassy savannas, densely overgrown with umbrella-shaped acacias. In river valleys, as a rule, there are tropical forests with sycamore trees, palms, milkweed and wild coffee trees. The fauna of Ethiopia is quite diverse. Elephants, lions, antelopes, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, leopards and other animals are found in the savannahs. In semi-deserts, ostriches are considered to be the true owner. Also in Ethiopia, eagles, falcons, herons, vultures, partridges and other representatives of ornifauna live.

sights

The territory of modern Ethiopia is rich in historical, religious and cultural attractions. The most visited cities are Addis Ababa, Gondar and Lalibela.

Gondar has perfectly preserved city walls and numerous palaces that distinguish them from traditional buildings of African culture. Near the settlement is the stunning house of the founder of the city Faseledesa... There is a beautiful pond with unique vegetation and a huge pavilion of "cold baths". Deserves special attention debre-Byrhan-Selassie church, which is painted with amazing frescoes of the XIII century.

Public transport is represented by buses and taxis. It is worth noting that there are two types of taxis in Addis Ababa: yellow and blue. The first vehicles are aimed at foreign tourists, while others are used to transport local residents. Yellow taxis are generally slightly more expensive. The average cost of a trip within the city center does not exceed $ 4. And for trips by taxi to the countryside, it costs about $ 60-80.

Rail links in Ethiopia are very poorly developed. This is the only branch line for passenger traffic from Addis Ababa to Djibouti. It should be noted that the railway rolling stock is significantly outdated and practically does not correspond to world standards. As a rule, travel to Djibouti by rail is more in demand than air travel due to its 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, therefore it is necessary to purchase tickets in advance before traveling.

Communication

Recently, communications and telecommunications systems have begun to develop rapidly in Ethiopia. Thus, a landline 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 an international conversation, you need to contact the post office. Also, devices that allow making an international call are installed in all major hotels and hotels and at the Bole airport. The cost of a call within the country is about $ 0.25, and the price of a minute of international communication does not exceed $ 1.

Cellular communication of the GSM 900 standard in Ethiopia is provided by several operators at once. It should be noted that roaming of the world's leading mobile operators, including the Russian companies MTS and Beeline, is perfectly supported in Ethiopia.

Foreign visitors to Ethiopia are not particularly pleased with the development of network technologies in the country. Several dozen Internet cafes operate in large cities. True, they often look like small dark rooms with old computers. But this is enough for the local population. The connection speed is incredibly slow and the connection drops quite often. The cost of using the Internet in Ethiopia is about $ 2 per hour.

Security

Ethiopia is considered a relatively safe country to travel to. However, some regions are not controlled by the country's government. Major crimes against foreign citizens are considered to be quite rare. But petty thefts, robberies, fraud take place in crowded places, and especially in local markets.

Like most tropical African countries, Ethiopia has a huge number of infectious and viral diseases. You should not come to this country without the appropriate vaccinations against yellow fever, malaria, trachoma, schistosomiasis, etc. It should be noted that HIV infection is widespread in Ethiopia, more than one million people are infected with this disease.

The sanitary conditions in Ethiopia are poor. During drought, there is a certain risk of lack of water even in large cities. Do not consume raw water. Many experts recommend drinking only bottled water, although it is very rare in extreme heat. To prevent infection with helminths, vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, and fish and meat should be generally heat treated.

Business climate

According to experts, the main types of successful business in Ethiopia are the cultivation and production of coffee, as well as tourism. Moreover, the latter industry has received intensive development quite recently. To attract foreign tourists, the country's authorities eased the visa regime and allowed access to previously closed areas. Noticing the increasing interest of tourists to the country's natural attractions every year, foreign investors decide to finance the tourism business in favor of Ethiopia.

The property

Many experts confirm that buying real estate in Ethiopia today is a profitable investment option. Most buyers prefer to buy housing in major cities of the country for subsequent resale. Some buyers purchase large cottages to equip them with cozy hotels. 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 $ 600 per square meter.

Ethiopian guests often choose to stay in rented apartments. Interestingly, the cost of renting a one-room apartment in a residential area of \u200b\u200bAddis Ababa will cost a tenant only $ 300 per month.

Although Ethiopia is considered a safe country, it will not be superfluous to follow the basic rules of conduct in Ethiopian society. It should be noted that for Russian citizens, movement in Ethiopia is not limited. However, the country's authorities strongly recommend not to travel alone to areas neighboring Somalia.

All travelers should remember that Ethiopia's population is extremely religious. Many social laws are based on religious norms. 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 not very friendly emotions in Ethiopians towards tourists.

When purchasing any souvenirs for your relatives, you must remember that in Ethiopia it is prohibited 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 with you confirming the fact of purchase.

Visa regime

To visit Ethiopia, a visa is required, which can be obtained both at the embassy of the country and directly at bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. To apply for a visa at the consular section of the embassy, \u200b\u200byou must present a copy of your internal passport and a foreign passport, 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.

Russian citizens can apply for an entry visa directly at Bole Airport in the Ethiopian capital. To do this, you must submit two photographs and fill out a form. After that, a consular fee of $ 100 is paid. A visa is issued for 30 days.

For detailed advice, please contact the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Moscow at the address: 120110, Moscow, per. Orlovo-Davydovsky, 6.

Ethiopia - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, a state in North-East Africa. In the past, the country was often called Abyssinia. Ethiopia is made up of several former semi-independent provinces-states, the largest of which were Amhara, Gojam, Shoah and Tigre, as well as regions with populations speaking the Oromo, Gurage, Sidamo, Somali, Afar and Tigrinya languages. After the proclamation of independence of Eritrea in May 1993, Ethiopia was cut off from the sea. In the north, the country borders with Eritrea, in the west - with Sudan, in the south - with Kenya, in the east - with Djibouti and Somalia. The border with Somalia has not yet been completely demarcated.

Language
Amharic (Amarinya) - state, tiger, galla, English, Arabic, about 70 different local languages \u200b\u200bare used. The entire population is divided into two main linguistic groups - the Semites, who live in the northern and central regions of the country, and the Kushites, who live mostly in southern and eastern Ethiopia.

Religion
Ethiopian Orthodox Church - 45-50%, Islam - 35-40%, paganism - 12%.

Time: Moscow.

Climate
In Ethiopia it is highly dependent on the altitude. In the tropical zone, located below 1830 m above sea level, a dry tropical climate prevails - the average annual temperature in these areas is about +27 ° C. In the subtropical zone (1830 m - 2440 m above sea level), the average annual temperature is +22 ° C. Above 2440 m above sea level, there is a temperate climate zone with an average annual temperature of about +16 ° С. On the territory of Ethiopia, there is one of the hottest places on earth - the Danakil depression (the temperature in the hot season here reaches + 60 ° C). The rainy season usually lasts from mid June to September, sometimes there is a short rainy season in February or March.

Population
58.6 million people. Mainly the peoples of Oromo - 40%, Amhara - 25%, Tigers - 12%, Shangalla - 6%, Somalis, Yemenis, Indians, Armenians, Greeks, etc. (more than 100 peoples).

Territory: 1 million 140 thousand km².

Currency
1 Birr \u003d 100 cents. Byrr is a fairly stable currency. Officially changing hard currency cash and traveler's checks, the use of which is almost impossible in the country, is allowed in banks and some hotels. Credit cards and traveller's checks in Ethiopia are accepted in a few places, mainly in the offices of foreign airlines. Currency is also exchanged openly on the streets and in small shops, but at a rate 10% higher than the official one, and no certificates are given, which means that there will be problems at customs. Government-owned hotels charge foreigners not in birr, but in dollars (receipts for these calculations should be kept!). It is possible to exchange Ethiopian birr for cash foreign currency only if there is a document confirming the person's intention to leave the country. This document can be an air ticket or passport with a valid exit visa. Tipping is 5-10% in large and hotel restaurants, in small and private establishments - at the discretion of the guest.

Geography
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is located in Northeast Africa. In the northeast it borders with Eritrea and Djibouti, in the east and southeast - with Somalia, in the southwest - with Kenya, in the west and northwest - with Sudan. In the northeast it is washed by the Red Sea. Most of Ethiopia's territory is elevated and mountainous, occupied by the Ethiopian Highlands (height up to 4623 m, the highest point of the country is Ras Dashen). The East African Rift crosses the highlands diagonally from northeast to southwest. In the north-east is the Afar depression, in the south-east - the Ethiopian-Somali plateau. Almost the entire territory of Ethiopia is a zone of high seismicity. The total area is 1.13 million sq. km.

Nature
Agriculture is the main branch of the Ethiopian economy, providing 85% of jobs. It provides about 45% of GDP and 62% of the country's exports. Coffee accounted for 39.4% of exports in 2001-2002. Coffee is a gift from Ethiopia to the world. This country is the main producer of Arabica coffee in Africa. Tea is another important crop. Endowed with vast agro-climatic zones and diverse resources, Ethiopia processes all types of grains, fibers, peanuts, coffee, tea, flowers, as well as fruits and vegetables. More than 140 varieties are currently being cultivated in Ethiopia. Potentially rainfed land is estimated at 10 million hectares. Livestock in Ethiopia is one of the most developed and numerous in Africa. Fishing and forestry are also significant industries. There is great potential for investment in these industries. Horticulture: Ethiopia's diverse agro-climatic conditions favor the cultivation of a wide range of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Vegetable growing and flowers are the most dynamically developing sectors of the economy. More than 29,000 tons of fruit products and 10 tons of flowers were exported in 2002. It is no exaggeration to say that the floriculture sector is the most attractive investment in the entire Ethiopian economy.

Animal world
Ethiopia is the largest country in Africa in terms of livestock and is also among the ten largest in the world for this indicator. Ethiopia has 35 million cattle, 12 million sheep and 10 million goats. Lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants are still found in some places; jackals, hyenas and foxes are ubiquitous. Hippos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, monkeys, incl. baboons and crocodiles. The remote northwestern and northeastern mountainous regions are home to some rare animal species, such as the Ethiopian goat and the nyala antelope.

Kitchen
Food in Ethiopia is a special article. You do not get involved right away, but from a certain moment you start to unstoppably crave a combination called "injera-watt". The first element is a light gray spongy cake, soft as velvet, about half a meter in diameter. It is spread on an even-sized tin dish and the second element is placed on top - a hot berbery pepper sauce, in which almost everything edible can be cooked: meat, poultry, vegetables, fish. But always separately. You need to eat only with your hands - please, no forks-knives!

The hostess, if you are a guest, can put the most delicious piece in your mouth with her own fingers. This is "gursha". You can't refuse! After that (either before, or immediately) they will bring "tybs" - in a special way, lashes, cut pieces of meat, fried with green pepper. Ground red pepper is always nearby, like its antipode in Ethiopian cuisine, homemade cottage cheese, designed to extinguish the rampant fiery spiciness. And those who are afraid of this natural for Ethiopia anti-gastro-viral pepper component, can taste "allichu". This is a stew, where the spices, although they do not give themselves away and do not lend themselves to European analysis, are forced to clean this plate too.

The most desperate, equating themselves to the harsh Ethiopian warriors, will prefer raw meat. You can cut it off from the imposing part of the calf, bred specifically as this "dish". A crooked, somewhat, but very sharply sharpened knife always lies nearby. And if raw meat is served in the form of minced meat, then it is "kytfo". And this is the best-loved French "stack of tartare".

We wash it down with "tag". In principle, this is honey home brew, but somehow it is very poor here. The color is sometimes like milk amber (if homemade), then transparent as a tear if in a "European" Ethiopian restaurant. And if you want to get closer to the earth - then "tella", barley beer.

Finally, a coffee ceremony. The word "coffee" itself, which is understood throughout the planet, comes from the name of the Ethiopian province of Kaffa. The legend about the origin of coffee is as follows: the goats ate some berries from large bushes and began to frolic uncontrollably. Observant monks cooked from these grains

Many African countries are very similar to each other, and at the same time, each territory has unique distinctive features and unique traditions. The same applies to Ethiopia - a country known throughout the world for its delicious coffee. In addition, it is the second largest nation in Africa.

It is also surprising that the Ethiopians use the Julian calendar, forgotten all over the world, they have thirteen months of 30 days instead of twelve (one month, however, has only 5 or 6 days). In addition, on these lands you can really "rejuvenate", because here the chronology is eight years behind.

This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the Ethiopian lands have retained all their ancient culture and language, they have never come under the influence of Europeans. Thanks to this, it is a real asset, here are just some facts that may be of interest:

the biblical family of Solomon began in the country;
there was also a powerful kingdom;
the republic is called one of the oldest in the world, on the lands of which there are traces of the "Olduvai" culture;
ethiopia is also the oldest Christian country.

Ethiopia has no access to the sea, it borders on the following countries:

Eritrea;
Djibouti;
Somalia;
Somaliland (so far unrecognized state);
Kenya;
Sudan;
South Sudan.

The country of Ethiopia is unique in many ways, as it is the highest on the continent, the Ethiopian Highlands constitute a significant part of the entire area. The highest level is in the north, where there are Ras Dashen (height - 4620 m) and a slightly smaller Talo (height - 4413 m).

There are many plains on the territory, and yet the relief sometimes changes very sharply. In general, a decrease in altitude is observed from north to south, the largest depression, Afar, is in the east.

Although Ethiopia is located in zones of equatorial and subequatorial climates, it is softer and more humid here than its neighbors, due to its mountainous location. The temperature usually keeps the same all year round, about 25 degrees Celsius, only during the rainy season (June-September) it is colder here - about 15 degrees. At the same time, it is much hotter on the plains and lowlands.

The amount of vegetation in Ethiopia depends on natural conditions, for example, there are huge territories in the south-west rainforestdue to high temperatures and constant abundant humidity. But in those territories where people were engaged in the cultivation of agricultural crops, forests were cut down, and this phenomenon was constantly expanding, since the number of Ethiopians is constantly growing.

Inland, there are hot plains and usually sparse vegetation. The south and southeast are characterized by the presence of savannas.

The variety of animals changes with the change of vegetation. Moreover, the constant felling of trees and all kinds of poaching have led to a decrease in the species of fauna.

Ethiopia has a diverse population, like the rest of the mainland. At the origins of culture and history are the Amhara and Tigers, who profess Christianity and use Semitic languages. However, there are much more Oromo among the inhabitants, who are a Hamite-speaking group.

You can also meet other peoples in the country, small groups, for example:

The majority of Christians are on the Ethiopian lands (half of the population is Miafizites and there are few Protestants), however, Muslims are firmly rooted here (about a third of them). In addition, there are citizens who have remained faithful to aboriginal cults and other popular beliefs. In some areas, voodoo adherents still live.

Economically, Ethiopia is a very poor country with a low level of modern development. Most of the income comes from agriculture, which is not particularly profitable, although almost the entire population works there (about 85%). Grow:

coffee;
cereals;
cotton;
potatoes;
sugarcane.

Cattle breeding is only developing, however, quite actively.

And yet the bulk of goods are brought here from China, Saudi Arabia and India.

In this situation, almost 40% of Ethiopians live below the accepted poverty line, which is almost the worst indicator in all of Africa.

Despite this, tourists come here, as the local history is still felt in local attractions. Travelers are recommended to visit such places:

Aksum is a city with castles and obelisks, which used to be the capital, and in the period from the 1st to the 7th century was the center of an ancient powerful kingdom;
Addis Ababa is the modern capital of the country;
Gondar is a fortress city;
Lalibela is a city sacred to all Christians;
Sof-Omar - caves sacred to every Muslim;
numerous parks (Gambela, Bale and others).

Capital of the country Ethiopia

Modern Ethiopia has combined many opposites; its capital, Addis Ababa, is just as diverse and in some places contradictory. In this huge city of over three million people, you can see the huts of beggars next to luxury hotels and offices. And next to these expensive buildings, goats or donkeys can easily graze.

And yet, the capital of the country Ethiopia has at least some resemblance to a European city, there are comfortable conditions necessary for tourists that meet the standards (for example, an airport built using innovative technologies).

In addition, this city is not only the capital of the country, but also the capital of the African Union, and its special status is a separate region. Because of such a significant importance, Addis Ababa is even called the "capital of Africa".

However, it should be noted that this settlement is not old, it was founded in 1886 by an emperor named Menelik 2. The name means "New Flower", and this is how the capital began to be called at the request of the wife of the newly-made above-mentioned emperor.

Addis Ababa is located quite high - at an altitude of two and a half kilometers above sea level, this is one of the highest rates among the capitals in the world. There is a very pleasant climate, it is moderate and favorable for life and rest.

The inhabitants belong to numerous nationalities, therefore all kinds of religions are preached in the capital. And, despite this, there is respect for each other and tolerance.

And although now Addis Ababa does not look like an ideal European city, for its country it really is a center in the field of culture and industry. Especially if we compare the situation in the city now and even 20 years ago.

In "New Flower" every tourist should see the following sights:

Lion Sanctuary;
Churchill Avenue with modern buildings, shops, embassies;
unity Square;
Trinity Cathedral;
church of the Virgin Mary of Zion;
Addis Mercato is a market of enormous size and the greatest range.

1) People's Democratic Republic, state in Vost. Africa. The name is from its ancient Greek. the name Aytopia, formed from the ethnonym Aytopi - "burnt faces", that is, having a dark complexion. Cm. See also Webi-Shabelle.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST... Pospelov E.M. 2001.

Ethiopia

(Ethiopia), state in V. Africa. Pl. 1133.4 thousand km², capital Addis Ababa ... The name is from the Greek Aytiopia - "a country with burnt (sun) faces". Former name - Abyssinia ... It was first mentioned in the 4th millennium BC. e. At the beginning of n. e. in the north was the kingdom of Aksum (4th – 6th centuries). Developed on its basis in the XIII-XIV centuries. the state led a centuries-old struggle against separatism and foreigners, especially after the opening of the Suez Canal (1869), Italy succeeded in 1882 to seize a number of regions of the North. E., Declaring them their colony. Italy's attempts to expand its possessions in Egypt ended in defeat in famous battle at Adua on March 1, 1896. In 1935 E. was occupied by Italy, in 1941 it was liberated by the Anglo-Ethiopian troops; in 1952–62 (by UN decision) - Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea; since 1975 - Socialist Ethiopia (as a result of the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I); since 1987 - People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; since 1991 - Ethiopia; since 1995 - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (in 1993, Eritrea seceded and gained independence). The country is headed by a bicameral Federal Assembly (Federation Council and Council of People's Representatives); the president is endowed with purely representative functions.
B. h. Territory - Ethiopian highlands (Ras Dashen city, 4620 m); on SV. it is adjacent to a depression Afar (116 m below sea level); small volcanoes along the edges of the depression. On the SE. the highland drops abruptly to a deep rift valley with drainless lakes at the bottom, which separates it from Somali plateau... Almost the entire territory of Egypt is highly seismic. The climate is subequatorial, constantly hot and summer-humid; in the Ethiopian Highlands it is cool (average-month temperatures above 2400 m 13–18 ° С); on the east and north. tropical deserts and semi-deserts (the Afar depression is one of the hottest places on Earth, average temperatures up to 35 ° C). Severe droughts are frequent in the north (the drought of 1984–85 affected 10.5 million people). Naib. low humidity. regions of the southwest. (up to 1500-1800 mm per year). The peculiarities of the climatic seasons are reflected in the local names: "time of flowers" (September - December); "hot time" (dry season: December - March); "sowing time" (April - May), "hard road time" (heavy rainy season: July - September). The rivers belong to the bass. Nile, the largest Abbay - Blue Nile so named for the purity of the water in the dry season, and Atbara ; flow to the Indian Ocean Webi-Shebeli and Jubba. Large lake Tana , salty lake Assale in the Afar depression, picturesque lakes of the rift valley. To the north, east and southeast. scrub deserts, semi-deserts and deserted savannas with acacia; to the southwest. along the river valleys, rainforests. Nat. parks: Avash, Gambela, Semen and etc.; nature reserves. The fauna is rich and varied.
Population approx. 65.9 million people (2001); over 100 nationalities and ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigray 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankela 6%, Gurage 2%, Somalis 6%, Afars 4%, etc. B.ch. of the population belongs to the Ethiopian race (intermediate between Negroid and Caucasian), in the west and southwest. - a small group of blacks; there are Arabs, in large cities - Italians. Officer. language - Amharic. OK. 50% of the population are Monophysite Christians; 40% are Sunni Muslims; the rest adhere to traditional beliefs; a small group of Judaists. There are nomads and semi-nomads. The population density is 53 people. for 1 km²; urban residents - 14% (1996). One of the least economically developed countries in the world. He sat down. agriculture (employing 85% of the active population, 90% of export earnings, 44% of GDP) is ineffective (slash-fire and hoe-plow farming, outdated irrigation systems, etc.). Due to frequent droughts, famine occurs periodically. Main crops - cereals; coffee - arabica (E. is one of the main producers of coffee in Africa, the birthplace of coffee named after the province of Kafa); oilseeds (chickpeas, sesame and castor oil - get castor oil), legumes, fruits (grapes, citruses, avocado, papaya), etc. Lives: large horn. cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, mules, camels; birds-in. Bees, collection of honey from wild bees for production of teja wine and wax candles. Fish is negligible due to religious restrictions. Logging. Food, text., Leather and footwear, woodworking, cement, metallurgical. (break), metal-sample, oil. prom-st; machine, production of tires. Gold, platinum, manganese, and potassium salt are mined. Crafts: weaving (tapestries), blacksmithing and pottery; processing of leather, bone, wood and metal, weaving (mats, baskets). OK. 14 thousand km of paved roads; g. d. Addis Ababa - Djibouti. International the airport. 10 universities, including 2 universities. Museums. Until the end of the XIX century. the basis of literature is theological writings, in painting - icon painting. Stone temples of the kingdom of Aksum; palaces in Aksum (IV century); Basilica of Mary of Zion in the vicinity of Dabtar; monastery ensembles in Lalibela, Debre-Damo and in the Tygrai region; temples and monasteries of the royal residence in Bet-Amhara (XIV century); in Gondare and near it - the suburban royal garden and the abbey. In Bale, the famous Sof Omar cave (length 15.1 km). Monetary unit. - byrr.

Dictionary of modern place names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, a state in North-East Africa. In the past, the country was often called Abyssinia. Ethiopia is made up of several former semi-independent provinces-states, the largest of which were Amhara, Gojam, Shoah and Tigre, as well as regions with populations speaking the Oromo, Gurage, Sidamo, Somali, Afar and Tigrinya languages. After the proclamation of independence of Eritrea in May 1993, Ethiopia was cut off from the sea. In the north, the country borders with Eritrea, in the west - with Sudan, in the south - with Kenya, in the east - with Djibouti and Somalia. The border with Somalia has not yet been completely demarcated.
NATURE
Terrain relief.Ethiopia is the most mountainous country on the African continent. More than half of its territory is located at absolute heights in excess of 1500 m, and is the Ethiopian Highlands, stretching from the Tigray region in the north to the Gamo-Gofa region in the south. Within its limits, the northwestern, central and southwestern regions are distinguished. In the north-western region there are peaks exceeding 4000 m above sea level. The highest of them are Mount Ras Dashen (4620 m) and Mount Talo (4413 m), located respectively to the northeast and east of the lake. Tana. In addition, the relief shows numerous table heights-outliers, which have the local name "amba". The Ethiopian Highlands in the east drops abruptly to the Afar Basin in the form of a scarp with absolute heights of 2100–2400 m. The western side of the Great Rift Zone slightly decreases in the southwest, where average heights reach 1500–1800 m above sea level. The western slopes of the highland are gentler than the eastern ones, and are limited in the west by ledges 1200–1500 m above sea level. The northwestern parts of the highlands are dissected by V-shaped valleys, the bottoms of which are at an altitude of approx. 600 m above sea level
Mountain ranges surrounded by vast plains are a characteristic feature of the landscape of the southeastern Ethiopian Highlands, where the administrative regions of Sidamo, Arsi, Bale and Harerge are located. Only the eastern edge of the Great Rift Zone is a clear boundary of this territory, since its southern and eastern edges are located on the territory of the neighboring states of Kenya and Somalia. Even deeper canyons are found here than in the northwest of the highlands. The escarpments bordering the Great Rift Zone have absolute heights from 1800 m in the south-west to 1200 m in the northeast, and in the center they exceed 2700 m, there are the Chilalo Mountains with a height of more than 3000 m.
The plains surrounding the Ethiopian Highlands constitute a significant part of the country's territory and in some places turn into a plateau up to 1500 m above sea level. However, individual basins are located below sea level. Within the northeastern plain, partly entering the territory of Eritrea and making up the northern end of the rift zone in Ethiopia, is the Afar depression, the deepest in Africa (116 m below sea level). It is sometimes viewed as a link between the African Great Rift Zone proper and the Red Sea graben. The plains, which form a narrow strip west of the Ethiopian Highlands, stretch along the Sudanese-Ethiopian border from the Gondar region in the north to the Illubabor region in the south. Usually, absolute heights in this strip do not exceed 1000 m.
Water resources.Since Ethiopia receives a significant amount of rainfall, the rivers are deep and there is enough water to irrigate fields. In the western part of the Ethiopian Highlands, the surface has a general slope to the northwest, and most of the large rivers there belong to the vast drainage basin of the Nile. The largest of these rivers, the Abbay, in the lower reaches called the Blue Nile, originates in the form of a small river Maly Abbay, which flows into the lake. Tana, and leaving it, gradually turns into a full-flowing river. The Tekeze rivers in the north and the Baro and Gilo rivers in the south are also significant waterways. The last two belong to the basin of the Sobat River, a tributary of the White Nile. Of the large permanent streams, only two rivers do not flow into the Nile Basin. The Awash River flows out to the Danakil region and, before reaching the Gulf of Aden, ends in lakes Gamarri, Bario and Abbe. Another river - Omo - flows into the lake. Rudolph on the border with Kenya.
Since the surface in the southeast of the Ethiopian Highlands has a general slope to the southeast, the river flow is directed to the Indian Ocean. The largest rivers in this part of the country are the Ouabi-Shebelle and tributaries of the main waterway of western Somalia, the Jubba River. Along with permanent streams, there are also numerous short rivers and streams, which are filled with water only during the rainy season, when loose deposits are eroded. Since during such periods the winding channels of permanent rivers receive additional nourishment, vast territories are flooded, and tons of fertile soils are washed away from the highlands and redeposited on the lower plains.
Ethiopia's hydrographic network is characterized by the presence of lakes in the Great Rift Zone. They vary in size - from 1300 sq. km (Lake Abai) up to 150 sq. km (Lake Auasa). Some are freshwater, others are salty. The largest lake in the country is Tana with an area of \u200b\u200b3,150 sq. km - not associated with the rift zone and is located in the northwest of the Ethiopian Highlands. It was formed in a tectonic basin as a result of damming lava flows.
Climate.Ethiopia is located in the equatorial and subequatorial zones, but due to the fact that most of its territory is occupied by highlands, the climate there is more temperate and more humid than in neighboring countries located at the same latitudes. Despite the lack of long-term accurate observations for the entire country, the available data indicate that in mountainous areas the amount of atmospheric precipitation ranges from 1000 mm in the north to 2000 mm in the south-west, with the maximum amount of precipitation falling in the summer months. In the lower regions of the southeastern Ethiopian Highlands, which are in the zone of influence of the monsoons, in the annual course of precipitation, two wet periods are clearly distinguished, separated by a dry summer season. The average annual rainfall here is 500-750 mm. Typically, the country's flat areas receive less than 500 mm of rainfall per year, with the exception of the Baro Valley in the southwest, which is in the path of summer winds that bring moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. The average annual precipitation in the most arid interior regions of the country, including the Danakil and Afar depressions, does not exceed 250 mm per year (in some years, no more than 50 mm).
Air temperatures depend on the altitude, which changes the zonal climatic characteristics, but at the same time are closely related to the distribution of precipitation. For example, in the western regions of the Ethiopian Highlands, the minimum temperatures occur during cloudy and rainy months, while the maximum ones are usually associated with clear sunny weather. The average temperature of the wet season is 16 ° C, dry - 21 ° C. For Ethiopia, sharp temperature drops are not typical. With decreasing altitude, temperatures rise, and the thermometer usually rises in the rainy season to 27 ° C and in the dry season to 35 ° C. A record high temperature (49 ° C) was recorded in the Danakil depression.
Flora and fauna.The most humid areas are characterized by the densest vegetation cover. In the southwest of Ethiopia, in a combination of abundant rainfall and high temperatures, there are large tracts of tropical rainforest with a rich and varied flora. As a result of centuries of agricultural land use, forests in the northwest of the Ethiopian Highlands have been cleared. In 1900, forests covered 40% of the country's territory, and in the early 1990s, their area was reduced to 4%. More than 2/3 of the remaining forests are concentrated in the Wollega, Illubabor and Kefa districts, the rest is in the Arsi, Bale, Sidamo and Gamo-Gofa districts. At the same time, in the conditions of a significant increase in the country's population, more and more forest land has to be allocated for arable land and the construction of new settlements. On the inner plains with a hot climate and low rainfall, sparse grassy vegetation is widespread, and in the south and southeast of the country, in the regions of Borena and Ogaden, there are acacia savannas.
Fauna changes with the nature of the vegetation. Deforestation and poaching have led to a significant reduction in the abundance and species diversity of wild animals. Lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants are still found in some places; jackals, hyenas and foxes are ubiquitous. Small numbers of hippos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, monkeys, incl. baboons and crocodiles. The remote northwestern and northeastern mountainous regions are home to some rare animal species, such as the Ethiopian goat and the nyala antelope.
POPULATION
Ethnic composition.Christians Amhara and Tigers, who in the past played a dominant role in the country's history, speak Semitic languages, which are based on the ancient Ethiopian language, or gyz, which is still used in church services to this day. Probably, the Semitic peoples moved to Ethiopia through the Red Sea from the centers of civilization in the fertile southwestern Arabia (the so-called "Happy Arabia"). In Africa, the Semitic aliens subjugated the local Hamite-speaking population, and then gradually merged with it.
Amhara and Tigers, which make up a third and a tenth of Ethiopia's population, respectively, inhabit the northwestern mountainous and highlands, located mainly north of 10 ° N. and west of 40 ° E. They also live in the Shoah Central Administrative Region up to the latitude of Addis Ababa in the south. The Amharic language is spoken in the greater, southern part of the Ethiopian Highlands, and the Tigrinya language in its northern part.
The Hamite-speaking peoples include the Oromo (until recently they were called the Galla), Somali, Afars (or Danakil), Sidamo and other smaller ethnic groups. Oromo, the largest Hamite-speaking group, makes up approximately 40% of Ethiopia's population. Individual Oromo groups differ in terms of economic development, social and political organization, and religion. In the distant past, these were nomads who lived on the plains with a hot climate in the southeast of the country. In the 16th century. The Oromo invaded many parts of the Ethiopian Highlands, displacing the Amhara Christians and the Muslim population of the eastern provinces. Later, many Oromo adopted Islam, a slightly smaller part converted to Christianity, but many adherents of traditional beliefs remain. A significant part of Oromo Christians have achieved high positions in the civil service. Oromo make up the majority of the population on the eastern edge of the Ethiopian Highlands, a vast plateau in the Wallo region, in the Wollega and Kefa regions in the southwest and in Harege in the southeast. In the south, Oromo pastoralists are dispersed on the arid slopes of the Ethiopian Highlands.
Another Hamitic-speaking group, Somali, inhabit the hot and dry eastern and southeastern regions of Ethiopia. These nomadic pastoralists, professing Islam, form a single ethnic group with the population of Somalia, Djibouti and Kenya bordering Ethiopia.
Relative Afars (Danakil), Sunni Muslims, live in the semi-desert plains of northeastern Ethiopia and in the northern regions of Djibouti. The cultural center and residence of the Afar Sultan are located in the Afar depression, where the Avash river flows into the system of lakes Gamarra, Bario and Abbe.
Peoples speaking the languages \u200b\u200bof the Sidamo group live in the southern regions of the Omo River valley and around the closed lakes in the south of the Great Rift Zone within Ethiopia. Remaining isolated from Amhara as a result of the Oromo invasion, these peoples developed independently until at the end of the 19th century. were not conquered by Emperor Menelik II and their lands were not included in the Ethiopian state. Over the past two centuries, they managed to create several small states, the most developed of which was Kafa.
Gurage, who speak a Semitic language close to Amharic and Gyizu, form a kind of connecting link between Oromo and Sidamo, who live to the south of them, and Amhara, who live to the north. They are engaged in primitive agriculture and pastoralism, and until the end of the 19th century. only part of their territory was part of Ethiopia.
Numerous Negroid tribes live in the west and south of the country, from the southern border of the Gondar region to Lake. Rudolph, in hilly regions that stretch from the western edge of the Ethiopian Highlands to the sultry plains of Sudan. In the past, like Oromo and Gurage, they were often sold into slavery. Many slaves from these areas were taken to Arabia, Egypt and Sudan.
Demography.According to the 1984 census, Ethiopia was home to 41 million people, and in 1998 the population increased to 62.1 million. According to UN estimates, in 1995-2000 the average annual population growth was 3.2%. In 1996, approx. 46% of the country's residents were under the age of 14. The population density is uneven. The most densely populated areas of the Ethiopian Highlands with a mild climate, fertile soils and abundant rainfall, while the arid plains in the east of the country are rarely inhabited.
In the absence of precise statistics, it is assumed that approx. 40% of Ethiopians profess Christianity, 45% - Islam, the rest - Jews, Hindus, etc. Traditionally, the overwhelming majority of government officials were appointed from Christians, although in the history of the country there were also Muslim ministers.
A relatively small part of the population lives in cities. In 1994, Addis Ababa, the capital and largest city in the country, had 2.1 million inhabitants - almost a third of Ethiopia's urban population. Addis Ababa is a city of pan-African importance, as it is home to the Organization of African Unity (OAE) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Among other cities, the population of which, according to the 1994 census, exceeded 50 thousand people, stand out (in thousand people): Dyre-Daua (164.8), Nazret (127.8), Gondar (112.2), Dess (97.3), Harer (131.1), Mekele (96.9), Jimma (88.9), Bahr Dar (96.1), Akaki (54.1) and Debre-Zeit (Bishoftu) ( 51.1).
STATE ORDER AND POLITICS
Ethiopia has been a feudal monarchy for centuries. Its last emperor Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) in the period from 1930 to 1974 concentrated in his hands all the power. An army action in early 1974 led to the resignation of the government, and in September 1974 Haile Selassie was deposed. The country was led by an army group that established the Provisional Military Administrative Council, or Derg. The new leadership announced its intention to create a one-party system and transfer property "necessary for economic development" to state control. In 1975, the monarchy was abolished by government decree. In 1977, after the purges in the military leadership, the country was headed by Lieutenant Colonel Mangystu Haile Mariam.
Mengystu held power until the defeat of government forces by armed opposition forces in 1991. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Eritrea (PPLF) took control of the entire territory of Eritrea. In May 1991, units of the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) occupied Addis Ababa. By the decision of the RDFNE, a Transitional Government was created, and the head of the Tigray rebels, Meles Zenawi, became the interim president of Ethiopia.
The period of the monarchy.The highest power in Ethiopia was possessed by the emperor, or nyguse-negest (king of kings). The legend about the direct origin of the emperor from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba contributed to the preservation of the dominant role of the monarchy in the country. Local power belonged to governors, who were appointed and removed at the request of the monarch.
The governor received no salary or military aid from the emperor. He maintained his own army and made all appointments to the administrative apparatus of his province, annually sending part of the collected taxes to the center. Especially high taxes and taxes were levied on the predominantly Orom population of the Ogaden region, which was captured at the end of the 19th century. Amharic and Tigray warriors of Emperor Menelik II. Most of the most fertile lands were distributed among the conquerors. The local population was forced, in addition to taxes, to pay rent to new landowners.
Since the system of feudal administration that had developed in the north could not be mechanically transferred to the southern regions, where a hostile population with a different social order lived, the process of political reform in the south was accelerated in the first half of the 20th century. under Emperor Haile Selassie I. When he became regent in 1916, he became a key figure in Ethiopian politics. In 1928, Haile Selassie became a Negus, and in 1930 he was elevated to the imperial throne. A senate was established in the country, whose members were appointed from among the nobility (members of the imperial family, ministers, judges and military leaders), as well as a chamber of deputies, the selection of which was carried out by nobles and local leaders “until the population could independently elect their representatives ". This bicameral parliament was mainly an advisory body, and also served as a channel for information coming from above from the government to the local nobility. In 1955, 25 years after his coronation, the emperor enacted a new constitution. Dressed in modern formulations, it did not change anything in the system of government, and until 1974 the country remained an absolute monarchy, whose subjects were deprived of basic political and civil rights. In the 20th century. Ethiopia remained a unique country where there was no political life in its modern manifestations: there were no political parties, non-state press, and local government.
An important innovation was the creation of a cabinet of ministers. The system of new ministries was created in accordance with the annex to the imperial decree of 1943. In 1967, 18 ministries functioned in Ethiopia. All ministers, including the prime minister, were appointed by the emperor. In the period after the Second World War, the modern education system developed rapidly. The educational institutions trained qualified personnel for the administrative apparatus and the modernized armed forces.
Revolutionary regime.In the aftermath of World War II, criticism of the monarchist regime intensified from disaffected ethnic groups and various sectors of society. Somalia, inhabiting the southeastern region of Ogaden, resisted the Ethiopian authorities, and from 1960 this struggle began to be supported by the young independent Republic of Somalia.
A similar threat has emerged in the north of the country in Eritrea. After the elimination of the Italian colonial regime there in 1941, Eritrea fell under the control of the British military administration for 10 years, and then, as a self-governing unit, became a part of the federation with Ethiopia. In 1962, the emperor dissolved the federation, turning Eritrea into one of the Ethiopian provinces. In the same year, the national liberation movement was formed, which launched an armed struggle for the independence of Eritrea.
Socio-economic changes have led to the emergence of new groups in Ethiopia, dissatisfied with the policies of the monarchical regime. The educated part of society rejected the political permissiveness of the emperor and his entourage and sharply criticized the slow pace of development of Ethiopia, which was one of the last places in the world in terms of living standards. Among the peasants in the southern regions, resistance to exploitation on the part of landowners-landowners grew. Deprived of any legal protection or social security, the small urban proletariat labored in factories owned and operated by foreigners. The large Muslim population was displeased that Islam was not officially recognized as one of the state religions and that Muslims were rarely appointed to high government posts.
Discontent has been ripening for years. The internal political situation in the country sharply deteriorated in 1974 against the backdrop of rising inflation and unemployment, coupled with a terrible famine, which in 1972-1974 claimed the lives of approx. 200 thousand people. The government turned out to be unable to prevent the catastrophe: first of all, caring about its own reputation, it tried to hide the fact of hunger from the outside world by any means, leaving people dying of hunger to their fate. IN military unitsExhausted by years of fruitless fighting in Ogaden and Eritrea, an uprising broke out. Having lost the support of the army, the imperial regime collapsed without resistance. On September 12, 1974, Haile Selassie was deposed, arrested and died on August 27, 1975. Power in the country passed to the Provisional Military Administrative Council (VVAS), or Derg.
This council originally consisted of 120 military personnel ranging from private to major. In 1974 and 1977, Derg was purged, with the result that its significantly thinned composition was headed by Mangystu Haile Mariam.
The military leadership embarked on a revolutionary socialist program that radically transformed Ethiopian society. The nationalization of industrial enterprises, banks, financial and insurance companies and other sectors of the economy led to the liquidation of private capital. The nationalization and redistribution of land in the countryside undermined the economic position of the old aristocracy. The nationalization of land and apartment buildings in cities has deprived their former owners of the opportunity to enrich themselves from rent. The military leadership launched a nationwide campaign to promote the ideas of "Ethiopian socialism" and accordingly changed the curriculum in public schools (after the nationalization of private schools, only public ones remained in the country).
The military inherited from the previous regime the problem of Eritreans and Somalis, who intensified the struggle for independence. Representatives of other nationalities also took up arms, so that at least five liberation fronts, created on an ethnic basis, opposed the central government. As a result, the military regime was embroiled in hostilities throughout the country. In addition, the reluctance of the military leadership to share power with civilian politicians has led to the emergence of underground opposition movements. The Mengystu regime destroyed thousands of its opponents, many of whom were forced to flee the country.
Military establishment.According to long-standing tradition, the majority of the Ethiopian army was provincial formations maintained by the governors. To strengthen his position and coordinate the actions of the provincial armies, the emperor strove to have his own strong army... After the restoration of the imperial regime in 1941, Haile Selassie created an army that provided him with an undeniable superiority over potential rivals. This allowed the emperor to implement a series of successful reforms aimed at significantly limiting the power of the governors. The core of the new armed forces was the regular army, trained by the British under an agreement with Ethiopia in 1942. In addition, the emperor created a personal guard on the French model, led by the Swedish general E. Virjin.
In the early 1950s, the United States became Ethiopia's main ally and main source of financial assistance. In exchange for military assistance, which made it possible to form an army of 60 thousand people, the United States received the right to establish a large Kagnyu air force base near Asmara, the main city of Eritrea. The Ethiopian army was equipped with American weapons, and many of its officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Mengystu, received military training in the United States. In 1960, military units loyal to the regime decisively suppressed an attempt to overthrow Haile Selassie, which was led by officers imperial guard... However, the futile war with guerrilla groups in Eritrea and Ogaden, which lasted for many years, undermined the morale of ordinary soldiers, whose living conditions had deteriorated. The junior officer corps, graduates of the military academy in Harera, shared the discontent of the Ethiopian intelligentsia with an authoritarian political system. In 1974, rank and file soldiers and junior officers banded together to overthrow the monarchist regime.
The radicalism of the new government and the nationalization of American investments without compensation forced the United States to stop providing military and economic assistance to Ethiopia. Faced with the simultaneous offensive of separatists in Eritrea and Ogaden and the growth of internal political instability throughout Ethiopia, Mengystu turned to the USSR and its allies for help. In 1977-1978, the USSR sent large shipments of weapons to Ethiopia, and also sent military advisers and technical personnel. Tactical has arrived from Cuba battle group numbering several thousand people, various assistance came from other countries of the socialist camp. All these measures allowed the military regime to repel the full-scale offensive of the Somali army in 1978 and regain control over all major cities of Eritrea. Success on the fronts allowed Mengyst to strengthen his position by eliminating the main groups of civil opposition and significantly increasing the size of the armed forces. Nonetheless, throughout the 1980s, Eritrean rebels steadily built up their combat power, and at first insignificant uprisings against the military regime in Tigray province escalated into a full-scale civil war. By the middle of 1990, Ethiopia had effectively lost Eritrea, and the military successes of the Tigrayans led to the overthrow of Mengystu in 1991.
Political parties.Although Derg, created in 1974, repeatedly declared (especially after the beginning of large-scale military aid from the USSR and Cuba in 1977) that it was carrying out socialist transformations, in fact he was far from Marxist ideology. In 1979, the Commission for the Organization of the Workers' Party of Ethiopia (KOPTE) was formed. Mengystu became the chairman of the Commission, and other members of Derga became members of its governing bodies. At the direction and under the control of the military, associations were created that unite in their ranks peasants, workers, townspeople, women and youth. In September 1984, KOPTE announced the creation of a Marxist-Leninist party in the country, called the Workers' Party of Ethiopia (RPE). Mengystu became the general secretary of the party. According to official data, in 1989 its population reached 50 thousand people.
Derg fought mercilessly against any opposition, but gradually the initiative in the country began to move to the armed formations created by the Eritreans, Tigrais, Oromo and Somalis. The most powerful insurgent movements were the unconcealed Popular Front for the Liberation of Eritrea (PPLF), which sought independence for Eritrea, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray (PPLT), which helped topple Derg. Maoism was the original ideology of the NPLT, but since the early 1990s, it has advocated pluralism and parliamentary democracy. In 1989, on the initiative of the NPLF, the Revolutionary Democratic Front of the Peoples of Ethiopia (RDFNE) was created, which, along with the Tigrayans, included smaller armed groups created on an ethnic basis, such as the Oromo Liberation Front, which enjoyed the support of the population of the southwestern regions of the country ... In May 1991, when the armed forces of the EPRDF approached Addis Ababa, Mengystu fled the country. RDFNE took control of the capital and appointed the leader of the NPT, Meles Zenawi, as interim president. By this time, the NPOE controlled the entire territory of Eritrea, and the EPRDF had to recognize its independence.
Religion.The Ethiopian Orthodox Church played an important role in the political life of the country, second only to the power of the emperor and the army. Using tremendous influence, comparable only to the authority of the Catholic Church in medieval Europe, the Ethiopian Church consolidated society. The unifying role of the church was facilitated not only by common faith, but also by the peculiarities of the church hierarchy. At the very top was abuna (metropolitan), the country's only bishop, who was appointed by the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria. Since abuna was always appointed from among the Egyptians and was not privy to the intricacies of Ethiopia's political life, he could stay away from worldly concerns in order to maintain his spiritual authority. In fact, the Ethiopian ruled the church, its administrative head, ychege, but only the abuna had the right to be ordained to the church dignity and anointing to the imperial throne. The emperor himself often took an interest in church affairs.
In political life, the church was a powerful conservative force, which was quite understandable, given that the maintenance of its large clergy depended on the preservation of large church property. In 1990, there were 20 thousand churches and monasteries in the country, their parishioners were approximately 45% of the population. Even a small community sometimes had more than one church, in each of which three priests and several youth deacons conducted services. Several hundred clergymen could be at the cathedral.
One of the results of the growing national consciousness of Ethiopians was the desire to weaken the dependence of their church on the Alexandrian patriarch. In 1948, the emperor refused to accept the new abuna, appointed in Alexandria, and put forward a number of demands on the Alexandrian patriarch. According to Haile Selassie, representatives of the Ethiopian Church should have participated in the selection of the patriarch and the meetings of the synod of the Coptic Church, the abuna should be appointed from among the Ethiopian clergy, and the synod of the Ethiopian Church should itself determine the clergy who will be consecrated abuna to the rank of bishop. In 1951, for the first time in 15 centuries, the Ethiopian Church was headed by the Ethiopian Abuna, who in 1959 was elevated to the rank of Patriarch. Since 1959, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has become completely independent from the Coptic.
With the coming to power of the military leadership in 1974, the church fell on hard times. The nationalization of the land deprived the clergy of the vast land holdings that the church had been collecting for centuries. The church lost financial support from the state, and its maintenance became the lot of the clergy themselves. In 1976, the acting abuna was accused of corruption and stripped of his post, and an unknown monk, pleasing to the authorities, took his place. Christianity has lost the privilege of being the only state religion in the country. By the decision of the authorities, Islam and other religions were equalized in rights with Christianity.
Foreign policy.The spread of Islam cut off the already inaccessible Ethiopian Highlands from the outside world. Isolation was facilitated by the colonial division of Africa between the European powers in the late 19th century, which threatened Ethiopia's independence. With the exception of US-created Liberia, Ethiopia remained the only independent state in sub-Saharan Africa. The threat of foreign invasion was fully confirmed when Ethiopia became the target of Italian aggression. In 1896, at the Battle of Adua, the country managed to defend its independence. The coming respite made it possible to modernize the country and complete its territorial expansion in the southern direction. However, the threat of dismemberment of the country continued to exist. For example, in 1906, a tripartite agreement was signed between Great Britain, France and Italy, in which these powers, worried about the deteriorating health of Menelik II and the danger of internecine war, expressed their intention to respect the territorial integrity of Ethiopia, but in the event of its collapse declared mutual respect for the interests of each of parties in this region. The sphere of interests of France was the French railway from Djibouti, Great Britain (represented by Egypt) - establishing control over the lake. Tana and Blue Nile, Italy - construction railroad through Ethiopia, which would link the two Italian colonies on the coast. In 1925 Great Britain recognized the Italian sphere of influence in Ethiopia and promised to support the idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding a railway from Eritrea to Italian Somalia. Italy has promised to support the British project to build a dam on the lake. Tana. After Ethiopia protested against both agreements, Western diplomats assured its government that the agreements did not pose a threat to the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In 1919, in order to secure its independence, Ethiopia applied for admission to the League of Nations and in 1923 became a member of this organization. When Italy began the conquest of Ethiopia in 1935, even the historic personal appeal of the then exiled Emperor Haile Selassie to the League of Nations did not convince its members of the need to take effective measures against Italy.
After the restoration of the monarchical regime with the help of British arms in 1941, there was a short period of close British-Ethiopian cooperation. In 1945 Ethiopia became a member of the UN.
In the early post-war years, the main goal of Ethiopian foreign policy was to prevent Italy from transferring its former colonies of Eritrea and Somalia and the return of these territories to Ethiopia. The United Kingdom and the United States provided military and economic assistance to Ethiopia, and during the Korean War, Ethiopian military contingent along with American units fought there under the UN flag. In 1952, Eritrea was united with Ethiopia in a federation, and in 1962 it became a province of Ethiopia. In 1991, Eritrea was victorious and independent after years of national liberation struggle.
From the mid-1950s, Ethiopia began to establish contacts with other African countries. In 1955 she took part in the Conference of Asian and African Countries in Bandung, and in 1958 in the Conference of Independent African States in Accra. At the last conference, a representative of Ethiopia announced that his country had provided 200 Haile Selassie scholarships to Africans to study in Ethiopia. In 1958, the headquarters of the UN African Economic Commission was located in Addis Ababa, in 1960 the second Conference of Independent African States was held there, and in 1962 - a meeting of the Pan-African Liberation Movement of East, Central and South Africa. In May 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was created in Addis Ababa, and since then its headquarters has been located there.
During the reign of Haile Selassie, Ethiopia maintained close political and economic ties with the United States, although the emperor did not want to depend on one great power and tried to get help from as many countries as possible. American aid was directed primarily towards the development of public education, health care, and agriculture, and was also used to finance projects such as the construction of agricultural educational institutions and experimental stations, teacher training institutes and medical advisory centers. With the coming to power of the military leadership in 1974, relations between Ethiopia and the United States deteriorated, and in 1977 most of the organizations associated with the participation of Americans were disbanded by order.
After 1977, the Ethiopian leadership moved towards rapprochement with the countries of the Soviet bloc, from where significant military and less significant economic assistance came. Several agreements were concluded between Ethiopia and the USSR, the military leadership provided support for Soviet foreign policy actions.
ECONOMY
Consumer agriculture plays a leading role in the Ethiopian economy. In the early 1990s, more than half of the gross domestic product (GDP) came from agricultural production. During the same period, the share of trade and services in GDP grew. From 1989-1990 to 1994-1995 fiscal years, the annual growth in the share of the service sector in GDP was 2.4%. In 1993-1994 financial year the service sector accounted for 22% of GDP (data includes economic indicators for Eritrea). Until recently, Ethiopia was one of the poorest countries in the world, and its economy grew slowly. Between 1960 and 1974, the average annual production growth did not exceed 4%. The revolutionary upheavals led to the fact that this figure in 1974-1979 fell to 1.4%. Due to the rapid population growth, per capita output in 1985–1995 declined by an average of 0.3% annually. During this decade, the population growth rate averaged 2.6% per year. Severe droughts and civil War... In the early 1990s, there were signs of economic recovery. From 1989-1990 to 1994-1995 fiscal years, the average GDP growth rate was 1.9%. In the 1996-1997 financial year, GDP increased by 7%. Main improvement factor economic situation became foreign loans and financial assistance.
Agriculture.A temperate climate, fertile soils and abundant atmospheric precipitation in most of the Ethiopian Highlands create favorable conditions for the development of agriculture. The main crops are wheat, which is grown at higher altitudes in cooler climates, corn, millet, and grains grown at lower altitudes, as well as crops such as durro (a variety of sorghum), teff (a variety of millet with small grains, used to bake bread) and dagussa (from which black bread is baked). Coffee is an important export crop. In the 1994-1995 fiscal year, its share in export earnings was 66%. A significant part of the coffee harvest is harvested on the plantations of the state of Kefa. Other crops are cotton, date palm, sugarcane, beans and peas, oilseeds, chat (whose leaves contain a drug), castor oil plants, fruits and vegetables.
Agriculture is a vital industry for Ethiopia. In 1996 it employed 85% of the working-age population, and agricultural products accounted for more than 50% of GDP. Most of the peasants run a consumer economy, many of them are nomadic herders. At least half of the country's land is suitable for farming, including the vast unused land in the south. In early 1975, the military government nationalized all the land in the countryside, promising to distribute it among the peasants. The area of \u200b\u200ba private individual land plot should not exceed 10 hectares, the use of hired labor was prohibited. Peasant associations were established by government decree to carry out land reform. One such association united an average of 200 peasant households, initially the associations were given the right to decide all land issues. Later, their powers were significantly expanded, including judicial functions (minor administrative and criminal offenses), maintaining order, and exercising local self-government. In 1979, the government announced plans to transform peasant associations into collective agricultural production associations.
Derg's 17 years of rule have had a detrimental effect on the agricultural sector. Labor productivity has plummeted due to the regime's attempts to carry out forced collectivization and set low government procurement prices for agricultural products. The implementation of programs for the creation of new villages and the forced resettlement of peasants disorganized social and economic life in the Ethiopian village. The RDFNE, which overthrew the dictatorial regime of Mengystu Haile Mariam in May 1991, abolished state control over prices for agricultural products. The transitional government gave the peasants the right to establish minimum guaranteed prices for the crops grown. However, the authorities retained public ownership of land.
Most of the territory of the Ethiopian plains, due to the lack of irrigation, is suitable only for grazing. Herds of cattle (mainly zebu), sheep and goats, as well as horses, donkeys and mules (the latter are highly valued as a vehicle for transporting goods and people), accompanied by shepherds, roam from place to place in search of food. Even though the quality of the workmanship is mediocre, hides and skins are an important export. In 1996 in Ethiopia, there were approx. 30 million head of cattle, 22 million sheep, 16.7 million goats, 5.2 million donkeys, 2.75 million horses, 630 thousand mules and 1 million camels.
Mining industry.The bowels of Ethiopia are poorly studied. Gold mining, mainly from poor deposits in the south and west, has long been a by-product of the local population. Since the late 1960s, the development of rich gold deposits near Kybre-Mengyst (Adola) in Sidamo state has boosted the production of this metal. In the 1970s, gold production declined, but in 1986 it was 923 kg. Recently, a gold deposit was discovered in Laga Dambi in the Wollega area with a capacity of approx. 500 tons. Iron ore is mined and processed on a modest scale. Significant deposits of iron ore and coal have been found in the Wolleg, Illubabor and Shoah areas, but they have not yet reached development. There are reports that in the bowels of Ethiopia, primarily in Ogaden and Gambel, there are significant reserves of oil and gas, and geological exploration work has been carried out there since the late 1980s. Table salt is mined in the country, but it is not enough to meet domestic needs. Deposits have been explored or other minerals are being mined on a small scale: copper, sulfur, potassium salt, platinum, oil, marble, mica, cinnabar and manganese.
Manufacturing industryin Ethiopia is underdeveloped, and in the 1993-1994 fiscal year, the share of its products in GDP was only 7%. Mainly there are enterprises for processing agricultural products and light industry. The main products of the manufacturing industry are textiles, food (sugar, flour, pasta, cookies, canned meat and tomatoes), beer, footwear, cement, soap, alcoholic beverages, medicines and vegetable oils. Craftsmen make clothing, wood crafts, carpets, and jewelry. Many manufacturing industries are concentrated near urban centers such as Addis Ababa, Harera and Dire Dawa. In 1975, the government nationalized 72 industrial enterprises and acquired most of the shares in 29 enterprises.
Industrial development is constrained by the lack of electricity, although the country has a powerful hydropower potential, which is estimated at about 60 billion kWh.
The development of industry depends on investments, primarily foreign ones. To attract foreign investors, a government decree was issued in 1950 according to which all new businesses were exempted from taxes for the first five years. The decree provided that capital equipment can be imported into Ethiopia without paying customs duties, that the participation of the Ethiopian side will be minimized, and the investor has the right to transfer profits in foreign currency from Ethiopia abroad in amounts proportional to the invested capital.
In 1975, the government nationalized large industrial enterprises, as well as banks, financial institutions and insurance companies. The socialist policy of the government provided for the functioning of three sectors in the Ethiopian economy. The main branches of industry, natural resources and communal services were transferred to state ownership. A mixed public-private sector encompassed mining, paper and plastics, construction of large facilities, tourism, i.e. those areas that Ethiopia could not develop without the participation of foreign capital. The third sector of the economy, representing an extensive field of activity for private capital, included wholesale, retail and foreign trade, land transport, except for the railroad, food industry, hotel business, and small enterprises of various profiles. At the same time, many private firms were nationalized.
The average annual growth rate in the industrial sector declined from 6.4% in 1965-1973 to 3.8% in 1980-1987. From 1989-1990 to 1994-1995 fiscal years, the average annual growth rate of industrial production was 1.6%. However, in recent years, there have been positive shifts in industry. Its share in GDP in the 1993-1994 fiscal year increased to 7.1%, and in the 1994-1995 fiscal year - to 8%. Although the state still owns and operates some large industrial and commercial enterprises, the government has increased private investment in the economy and limited the state's economic role.
Public Works.Until recently, public works were used in the construction of churches, palaces and various public buildings. After World War II, the state thus built a modern palace, parliament building, prisons, hospitals, schools, airfields and radio stations. In addition, the repair and maintenance of highways, the construction of hydroelectric power plants were carried out, foreign economic assistance and funds from the state budget from foreign loans were directed to these areas.
International trade.Ethiopia exports mainly agricultural products and imports manufactured goods. In the 1994-1995 fiscal year, over 65.9% of export earnings were from coffee. Other important export items are hides, vegetables and oilseeds. The main imports were machinery and transport equipment, vehicles, yarns and fabrics, chemical products (primarily pharmaceuticals) and oil. Ethiopia's trade balance was in deficit. In 1994, export earnings amounted to $ 372 million, and the value of imports was $ 772 million.Until the mid-1980s, the United States was Ethiopia's main trading partner in exports, followed by the Federal Republic of Germany, which accounted for 32% of exports in 1994. ... The main import partners are Saudi Arabia (11% of the total import value), USA, Italy, Germany, Japan and Great Britain.
Transport and communication.Since ancient times, important caravan routes passed through Ethiopia. The development of modern modes of transport began with the construction of the Franco-Ethiopian railway from Djibouti to Addis Ababa (from 1981 it became known as the Ethiopian-Djibouti railway). Upon completion of construction in 1917, its length was 782 km (including 682 km in Ethiopia).
Several highways were built before the Italian occupation, and the Italians left behind many new roads. During the Italo-Ethiopian War, transport infrastructure, especially bridges, suffered significant damage, and road repair and maintenance were a heavy burden on the state budget. The imperial government was well aware of the role of reliable communications in strengthening the central government and consolidating the country. In 1995, the total length of paved roads was 23.8 thousand km. The expansion of the road network was financed from the state budget and from foreign aid. In 1995, the Ethiopian government announced the start of a road construction program, which was subsidized mainly through EU and World Bank loans.
After the Second World War, a merchant marine was created, and air transportation began. Planes of the Ethiopian state airline fly to all states of the country, and also connect Addis Ababa with countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In 1989, the Ethiopian airline's air traffic accounted for nearly half of that of all other African airlines combined. There are three international airports in the country (in Addis Ababa, Bahr Dar and Dire Dawa), there are domestic airports in all administrative centers and a number of major cities... Creature civil aviation made possible by loans provided to Ethiopia by the US Export-Import Bank and the American Development Fund. Other types of transport services include intercity bus routes and boat trips along the Tana and Abai lakes and along the Baro river. After the withdrawal of Eritrea from Ethiopia in May 1993, the country lost the ports of Massawa and Assab on the Red Sea. However, the government of Eritrea granted Ethiopia the right to use the port of Assab for receiving humanitarian aid to the hungry and foreign trade operations.
An integral part of Ethiopia's modernization was the expansion of domestic telephony. The first telephone lines were laid during the reign of Emperor Menelik II and later, especially during the Italian occupation, the telephone network was significantly expanded. Since the early 1950s, telephone and telegraph have linked Ethiopia with the rest of the world.
Monetary system.In the past, Ethiopia did not know such a thing as a government budget. Taxes and taxes, which were mostly paid in kind or worked out, were collected and used locally. The main source of government revenue was the tribute collected local authorities in their domain. Part of it remained in place, part was sent to the emperor. The main form of tax was tithe, when peasants were required to give a tenth, or even most of the agricultural production. There was also a tax on livestock. In addition to the above, there were many more local taxes, and there was also a system of labor service.
Ethiopia has long had two main forms of land ownership. The first form, characteristic mainly of the northern regions, included the perpetual ownership of land by the communities. The second form of land tenure, widespread in the central and southern regions, was based on the fact that the sovereign owner of all land in the country is the emperor, who, as a reward for service or payment of tribute, at his own discretion grants his subjects land. At the end of the 19th century. the lands, primarily around Addis Ababa, were partially transferred to private ownership. There was also a gebar, or lease, system, which was based on sharecropping. More or less orderly in the north, in the south it often led to abuses by landlords.
There were many exceptions to the general rule. The emperor often granted land to noble people who received the right to collect tithes and taxes in the form of various labor services. Part of the land with the right to collect taxes was transferred to churches, monasteries and individual church hierarchs. Everywhere the right to collect tribute could be granted in exchange for military service. Vast lands belonged to the emperor personally and members of his family, all taxes from there went directly to the imperial treasury.
After the restoration of the country's independence, the tax system has undergone profound changes. The new land tax, introduced in 1942, took into account the fertility of the soil and the location of a particular land plot; tax collectors were appointed by the Ministry of Finance. Two years later, tithes were added to monetary terms and added to a new land tax that went directly to the center, significantly increasing government revenue at the expense of local government revenue.
In 1975 the government nationalized all rural land and limited the maximum size of individual ownership to 10 hectares. In 1978, changes were made to the tax system, which aimed at a more equitable distribution of the tax burden. It was envisaged that, depending on the level of income, tax rates would vary from 10 to 85%. The collection of taxes in the countryside was entrusted to peasant associations.
Another important innovation in government fiscal policy was the significant increase in import duties in the 1940s, as well as the introduction of an individual income tax. All these measures have somewhat eased the tax burden on the peasants. Government revenues increased from $ 15.2 million in 1945 to $ 2.8 billion in 1987. In the 1994-1995 fiscal year, government revenues totaled $ 928 million. The main sources of government revenue were export and import duties and income tax, and in the postwar years - foreign loans (the largest of them were received from the World Bank and the United States). There was a significant increase in the expenditure side of the budget - from $ 15 million in 1945 to $ 3.9 billion in 1987 (in the 1994-1995 fiscal year - $ 1.29 billion). The main articles of budget financing were defense, education, maintenance of internal order, health care, social Security and the content of the management staff. Ethiopia's foreign debt in 1992 was $ 4.7 billion.
Banks.The monetary unit of Ethiopia is the birr (which replaced the Ethiopian dollar), which is equal to 100 centimes. The country's central bank is the National Bank of Ethiopia, created in 1964, the successor to the former State Bank of Ethiopia. Also in 1964, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia was founded to streamline trade operations. There is a Bank for Agricultural and Industrial Development, which provides loans for the development of relevant sectors of the economy, as well as several other banks. In 1975, the government nationalized all banks, insurance companies and mortgages.
CULTURE
Education.Since time immemorial, churches and monasteries have been centers of learning and education in Ethiopia. In the 19th and early 20th centuries. some Ethiopians may have attended schools at Christian missions of various faiths: Catholics from France and Italy, Swedish Lutherans, English and German Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists, and Presbyterians from the United States. In 1908, with the care of Emperor Menelik II, the first public school was opened, where Egyptian Copts taught. 20 years later, Haile Selassie founded the Tefari Makonneen school (that was the name of Emperor Menelik II before his coronation). Soon several other schools were opened, one of them for women.
In 1993, the country had 2.3 million primary school students and 714,000 secondary school students. Public schools run by peasant associations and urban dwellers' associations are open to all comers and teach approx. 95% of all students in the country. In 1991, 20.9 thousand students studied at the universities of Ethiopia. The largest is Addis Ababa University (formerly Haile Selassie I University). In 1995, 35.5% of Ethiopian adults were literate, which was the result of a nationwide campaign to eradicate illiteracy, which began in 1980, when only approx. 10% of the adult population can read and write well.
Literature and art.For a long time, literature was created mainly in the gyz language and had mainly religious content. True, already at the end of the 13th century. the first royal chronicles appeared on parchment. In the 19th century. the first works in the Amharic language were created, and shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, the first printing press appeared in the country. Not least in order to support the development of modern literature in the Amharic language, during his regency, Emperor Haile Selassie I founded the Byrkhan enna Saleam (Light and Peace) publishing house. Most of the literary works were characterized by a moralizing orientation. Many dramatic works were created after the liberation of the country from the Italian occupation, and they were staged either on the stage of the National Theater or by the efforts of university students. In the early 1990s, Addis Ababa had three daily newspapers in Amharic and one in English.
In the traditional fine arts Ethiopia was dominated by a predominantly Byzantine style. After 1930, commercial art developed significantly, oriented to the needs of tourists. In works of this kind, there was often a plot of the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, and they were a series of luboks, each of which supplemented the other. Around the same time, artists began to paint the walls of pubs and bars with images of national heroes and saints.
HISTORY
Historical roots and legends.About 10 centuries BC, Semitic tribes from southern Arabia landed on the northeastern coast of Africa and founded the Aksumite kingdom there, which was succeeded by Ethiopia. They established themselves in the north of the Ethiopian Highlands and began to move southward. The main historical and archaeological sources date back to the period from 150 BC. before 600 AD In the 4th century, during the reign of King Ezana, Christianity was adopted in Ethiopia. An important role in the spread of Christianity was played by the Syrian monk Frumentius, who gained popularity among the newly converted flock and was elevated to the episcopal rank by the then Patriarch of the Coptic Church in Alexandria Athanasius. This laid the foundation for the dependence of the Ethiopian Church on the Coptic Church of Egypt. In 451, during the schism of the Christian Church, at the Council of Chalcedon, Copts expressed support for the Monophysite trend, and representatives of the Ethiopian Church took the same position ( see also monophysitism).
At the beginning of the 6th century, in order to avenge the oppression of the local Christian population by their rulers, the army of King Caleb of Aksum invaded southern Arabia. At about the same time, Judaism began to penetrate Ethiopia, which had a noticeable influence on the rituals of the Ethiopian Church; in addition, some of the Aksumites became followers of Judaism. (The descendants of these converts, the Falasha, who lived in the north of the country, have now almost completely emigrated to Israel. Their emigration began in the mid-1980s and ended in 1991.) Although the Aksumite ruler Armagh granted refuge to the first followers of the Prophet Muhammad during the persecution of them in Arabia in the 7th century, the spread of Islam led to the isolation of the Aksumite kingdom. The Ethiopians hid behind their rugged mountains and, as Gibbon wrote, "slept for almost a thousand years, forgetting about the world around them, which also forgot about them." However, many of the country's rulers tried to maintain ties with Western European Christian countries.
According to Ethiopian tradition, the genealogy of the imperial family goes back to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. It is believed that the hereditary right to the imperial throne of the Solomon dynasty was interrupted for about two centuries by representatives of the Zague dynasty. At the end of the 13th century. the ruler of Shoah ascended the throne, having proved his belonging to the Solomonids. This was followed by a period of religious and cultural revival, when the royal chronicles and numerous works of a spiritual nature were created, the most significant of which was Cabre Nagast (Glory of the kings), containing the story of the journey of the Queen of Sheba to Jerusalem.
At the end of the 15th century. A small group of Portuguese and other Europeans, who set out in search of the kingdom of High Priest John, fanned by legends in medieval Europe, arrived in Ethiopia. The Portuguese hoped to make this Christian country an ally in the fight against Muslims and the growing Ottoman Empire. After, after 1531, Ethiopia began to suffer one defeat after another from the army of Imam Adal Ahmed ibn Ibrahim, known as Gran (Lefty), and lost most of its territory, the emperor turned to Portugal for help. In 1541, a detachment of 400 Portuguese landed in Massawa, led by Christopher da Gama, the son of the famous navigator Vasco da Gama. Most of the detachment, including its leader, died in battle with the Muslims. With the assistance of the surviving Portuguese, a new Ethiopian army was created, armed with muskets (until that time, only the soldiers of the Gran had firearms). In 1543, this army defeated the enemy, and Ahmed Gran himself was killed in the battle.
Foreign penetration into Ethiopia begins.The attempts of the Portuguese, and later the Jesuits to impose Catholicism on the population of the country, led to numerous conflicts. Eventually, in 1633, the Jesuits were expelled from Ethiopia. For the next 150 years, the country was almost completely isolated from Europe. The foundation of the capital in Gondar dates back to this period, where several stone castles were built. In the middle of the 18th century. the power of the emperor fell into decay, and the country was engulfed in feudal strife. In 1769, the English traveler James Bruce visited Ethiopia, trying to find the sources of the Nile. In 1805, the British mission acquired a trading port on the Red Sea coast. At the beginning of the 19th century. other Europeans also visited the country. In 1855, Tewodros, one of the most capable military leaders of the time, seized the imperial throne, revived power and authority supreme power and tried to unite and reform the country.
Napier's expedition.After Queen Victoria did not reply to a letter sent to her by Tewodros for two years, several British officials were imprisoned by the Emperor at the Mackdale prison. All attempts to achieve their release by diplomatic methods have led nowhere. In 1867, a military expeditionary force under the command of General Robert Napier was sent to Ethiopia to free the prisoners. Having disembarked from ships on January 7, 1868 in the town of Mulkutto on the shores of the Gulf of Zula, Napier's detachment, numbering more than 10 thousand people, moved along the rugged mountainous terrain to Mekdela. The British received help and food from local residents who were dissatisfied with the emperor Tewodros, primarily the Tygrai. On the other hand, Tewodros was also advancing towards Mekdela, whose power by this time had been shaken, and the ranks of the imperial army had thinned out. On April 13, 1868, this mountain fortress fell under the onslaught of British troops. During the assault, not wanting to fall into the hands of enemies, Tewodros shot himself. Soon, British troops left Ethiopia.
The first defeat of the Italians.After the death of Tewodros, Yohannis IV, ruler of Tigray, an ally of the British in their war with Tewodros, became emperor. His twenty-year reign, full of turbulent events, began with the suppression of attempts by other claimants to seize the throne. Subsequently, many battles fell to the lot of Yohannis with external enemies: Italians, Mahdists and Egyptians. The Italians, who had acquired the port of Assab in 1869, in 1885, with the consent of the British, seized Massawa, which had previously belonged to Egypt. In 1884, Great Britain and Egypt promised the emperor that Ethiopia would receive the right to use Massawa, but the Italians soon closed access there and began to systematically move deeper into Ethiopia. In January 1887, the emperor's warriors defeated the Italians at the town of Dogali and forced them to retreat. Then Yohannis entered into hostilities with the Mahdists, who now and then invaded Ethiopia from Sudan. In March 1889 he was mortally wounded in one of the battles. Negus Shoa Menelik became the emperor of Ethiopia, who enjoyed the support of Italy for several years. Shoah Menelik made successful military campaigns against the rebellious provinces and achieved significant consolidation of the Ethiopian state. During his reign, reforms began to modernize the country.
Accession to the throne of Menelik II.On May 2, 1889, shortly before the official act of coronation, Menelik concluded the Uchchal Treaty with Italy, according to which the Italians received the right to occupy Asmara. Outwardly, very friendly relations were established between the two countries. However, the said treaty became the source of many problems. The Amharic copy of the treaty provided that Ethiopia, if it deems it necessary, could resort to Italy's "good offices" in relations with other powers. In the Italian text of the treaty, it was stated that Ethiopia was obliged to do this only. In practice, this meant Italy's complete control over Ethiopia's foreign policy. Using its text of the treaty, Italy declared that, based on the provisions of the General Act of the Berlin Conference of 1885, it had the right to establish its protectorate over Ethiopia. The persistence of Italian diplomacy in upholding a favorable interpretation of the Uchchal Treaty led to its denunciation by the Ethiopian side on May 11, 1893.
Rivalry between Britain, France and Italy.All European powers, except Russia and France, recognized Italy's claims to its protectorate over Ethiopia. In 1891, the Anglo-Italian Protocol was signed, according to which, in exchange for Italy's commitments to do nothing in the Nile Valley, Great Britain recognized that the Italian sphere of influence extended to Ethiopia.
Italy's second defeat.Italy used its advantage and began to advance deep into Ethiopia. Having achieved successes in the fight against the troops of the ruler of Tygrai Mengashi, the Italian command had high hopes for a favorable outcome of the campaign. Meanwhile, Menelik, having received by this time large consignments of firearms from France and Russia, acted quickly and decisively. Gathering a powerful army, he opposed the aggressor. On March 1, 1896, a decisive battle took place at Adua, which ended in the complete defeat of the Italian troops. On October 26, 1896 in Addis Ababa, the parties signed a peace treaty that annulled Uchchalsky and recognized the independence of Ethiopia.
Collapse of French claims.Italy's defeat left France and Britain face to face in the Nile Valley. Mindful of the support of France in the war between Ethiopia and Italy, Emperor Menelik sided with France. The latter began to claim a leading role in the economy of Ethiopia, and the idea arose to unite the colony of the French Coast of Somalia (French Somalia) on the east coast of Africa with the French possessions in West Africa. Menelik was not without reason considered one of the key figures in the struggle for power in the Nile Valley. In the ten years that have elapsed since the Battle of Adua, he has significantly expanded the territory of his empire. Trained by French and Russian officers and well-armed Ethiopian troops conquered the state of Kafa and occupied vast areas extending south to Lake. Rudolph and the Kenyan Borders. On March 20, 1897, a secret treaty was concluded between Ethiopia and France, which established the Ethiopian border along the Nile and provided for the granting of trade concessions and certain advantages to France, including the right to build a railway. On May 14, 1897, Menelik signed an agreement with Great Britain that established the border between Ethiopia and British Somalia. Great Britain, which was fighting against the Mahdist state, received the right to transport weapons and ammunition through Ethiopia.
In Fashoda (present-day Kodok), located on the territory of Sudan, France was a loser, primarily because the French and Ethiopian armed forces failed to connect at the scheduled time, although the Ethiopians reached the Nile just above Fashoda. Under British pressure on November 3, 1898, France withdrew its troops from Fashoda. This was a great loss for the French. On May 15, 1902, Menelik signed a treaty with Great Britain on the delimitation of Ethiopia's western borders, and the Ethiopian side pledged not to divert the waters of the Blue Nile. Four years later, on December 13, 1906, an agreement was concluded between France, Great Britain and Italy, according to which these powers pledged to respect the sovereignty of Ethiopia, but in the event of a split, they assumed the obligation to respect their special interests in that country. Ethiopia itself was not involved in these decisions.
Internal problems.Meanwhile, Menelik's health deteriorated, and in 1907 he was paralyzed. The aforementioned tripartite agreement of 1906 was concluded exactly when it became known about the illness of the Ethiopian monarch. In June 1908, Menelik chose his twelve-year-old grandson Lija Iyasu to succeed him, and later Ras Tesemma was appointed regent. In 1911, after the death of Tesemma, Lij Iyasu was deemed old enough to make decisions and be responsible for them, but he did not have real power. Menelik died on December 12, 1913, his death was kept secret for a long time. World War I saved Ethiopia from partition between Italy, Britain and France.
Lija's father Iyasu, ruler of the Wallo region of Ras Mikael, was a Muslim before baptism, and in 1915-1916 the young emperor began to demonstrate his commitment to Islam. He declared that he was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and began to wear a turban. In addition, Lij Iyasu established friendly relations with Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. This development of events alarmed the diplomatic missions of the Entente countries in Addis Ababa, which came out in support of the Shohan clergy. When Lij Iyasu was in the south of the country, the Shohanian nobility moved their troops to Addis Ababa. On September 27, 1916, Menelik's daughter Zouditu was proclaimed Empress of Ethiopia, and Ras Tefari, the son of Menelik's cousin Ras Makonnin, was declared regent and heir to the throne. The following year, the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railroad was completed, giving the capital for the first time such important access to the sea.
Coronation of Haile Selassie.The Tefari race's regency period was turbulent. Fearing an invasion of Ethiopia by German and Turkish troops during World War I, some of the allied powers (Great Britain, France and Italy) in 1916 agreed that, if necessary, the country would come under Italian control. However, Ethiopia's entry into the League of Nations in 1923 consolidated its independence. In 1928, Ras Tefari was crowned a Negus, and two years later, on November 2, 1930, after the death of Empress Zouditu (April 2, 1930), he ascended the throne under the name of Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Italian occupation.The desire to restore the former greatness of the Roman Empire and the memory of the humiliating defeat at Adua, as it were, gave Mussolini and his fascist regime a reason to conquer Ethiopia.
On December 5, 1934, an armed clash occurred between Italians and Ethiopians in the Wal-Wal area, located 100 km from the undefined border between Ethiopia and Italian Somalia. To identify the perpetrators, the dispute was referred to the League of Nations, but in September 1935 this international organization declared that none of the states was guilty. Meanwhile, the Italo-Ethiopian negotiations reached a dead end, and again they unsuccessfully tried to find a solution to the problem within the walls of the League of Nations. Finally, as a result of consultations between representatives of Great Britain, France and Italy, a number of proposals were developed aimed at resolving the conflict situation. Ethiopia was ready for a constructive dialogue, but Italy, which this time actively increased the number of its troops in Italian Somalia and Eritrea, refused. On October 3, 1935, Italian troops invaded Ethiopia without declaring war. Although until that day the Ethiopian government had delayed in announcing a general mobilization, the poorly armed Ethiopian army was able to stop the enemy's advance at first.
On November 18, 1935, the League of Nations decided to impose economic and financial sanctions against Italy. In order to meet the Italian demands in December of the same year, Great Britain and France came forward with a proposal to dismember Ethiopia, but a wave of public protests, especially in Great Britain, prevented the implementation of this plan.
On May 5, 1936, Italian troops under the command of Marshal Pietro Badoglio entered Addis Ababa. By this time, Emperor Haile Selassie was already outside the country, having received asylum in England. While in exile, he gave a speech at a meeting of the League of Nations in Geneva, saying: "God and history will remember your decision." On May 9, 1936, Italy officially announced the annexation of Ethiopia. On June 1, the king of Italy was proclaimed emperor, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia were united to form the Italian East Africa colony.
Restoration of Ethiopia's independence.The Italian occupation lasted five years, and during all this time the Ethiopian patriots continued to resist the invaders. Already at the very beginning of the Second World War, the low combat effectiveness of the Italian army was manifested. On July 12, 1940, Great Britain officially recognized Ethiopia as its ally. To organize resistance to the invaders, Haile Selassie arrived in Sudan by plane. On January 15, 1941, the Ethiopian army, led by the emperor, began hostilities in Ethiopia. On April 6, 1941, British units drove the Italians out of Addis Ababa, and on May 5, 1941 Haile Selassie solemnly entered the liberated capital. On May 20, 1941, the last Italian units surrendered in the town of Amba-Alage. Haile Selassie again took the imperial throne.
World War II and the rise of British influence.British troops liberated Ethiopia from Italian occupation, but the threat to Egypt from German and Italian troops remained. In this situation, Great Britain needed reliable communications from Sudan to the Red Sea coast. In January 1942, the Anglo-Ethiopian agreement was signed, providing for the establishment of cooperation between the allies, the dispatch of British civilian and military advisers to Ethiopia, and the provision of financial and other assistance to restore the emperor's administrative apparatus. To maintain internal political stability, the British side committed itself to creating and training a regular Ethiopian army.
On December 19, 1944, a new agreement was concluded between Ethiopia and Great Britain, "two equal and independent powers", which nevertheless gave the British government priority in appointing advisers and senior officials of Ethiopia's financial system. The education system was reorganized and expanded, and Ethiopian control of the railway to Djibouti was restored. In 1945, the Ethiopian government granted Sinclair Oil Company a 50-year concession for the exploration and development of oil fields.
Ethiopia after World War II.In 1945 Ethiopia became a founding member of the United Nations and immediately firmly asserted its rights to the former Italian colonies of Somalia and Eritrea.
The peace treaty of February 10, 1947, which officially ended the state of war with Italy, canceled the Anglo-Ethiopian agreement of 1944. The emperor's power was restored throughout Ethiopia, with the exception of Ogaden, which remained under the control of the British military administration until 1948. By a UN decision, the British management on the territory of Italian Somalia, and since 1950 it was transferred under the tutelage of Italy for ten years. In 1960, Italian and British Somalia formed the independent Republic of Somalia. In 1952, by decision of the UN, Eritrea, as an autonomous unit, along with Ethiopia, joined the federation under the rule of the Ethiopian crown.
In 1962, in order to establish full control over the ports of Massawa and Assab, the imperial government abolished the autonomous status of Eritrea. In response, Muslim Eritreans organized the Eritrean Liberation Front (EFL), which began to fight first for autonomy and then for the independence of this country. By the late 1960s, about half of the Ethiopian army was stationed in Eritrea. Other movements also fought against the imperial government, most notably the ethnic Somalis in Ogaden.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the police had to forcefully disperse demonstrations of leftist student groups that advocated land reform and educational reform in the country, as well as granting independence to Eritrea. In 1972-1974 from hunger in the provinces of Tygrai and Wallo, approx. 200 thousand people. The government tried in every possible way to hide the truth about the famine. Until the end of 1973, the country's public did not even suspect about the numerous victims. After the truthful information appeared, massive anti-government demonstrations began.
In early 1974, the army units stationed in Asmara mutinied, demanding an increase in pay. Soon they were joined by military units in other parts of the country, demanding the resignation of the government. The military was supported by workers and students. Although the emperor complied with these requirements, in the next few months he lost all real power, which passed to the military. The military soon disbanded the civilian government and created its own interim military government. In the summer, criticism of the emperor intensified. On September 12, 1974, Haile Selassie was deposed and died eleven months later while under house arrest. Having usurped political power, the Provisional Military Administrative Council (Derg) introduced censorship and abolished civil rights. In November, a group of 60 people were executed, including former high-ranking officials. To fight the military regime, radical representatives of the left intelligentsia, workers and students organized the illegal Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party. During the Red Terror campaign launched by Derg in 1977, the opposition was defeated. Were killed approx. 100 thousand people, and several hundred thousand more were forced to take refuge in neighboring Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti. The split in Derge itself was liquidated by mass shooting of dissidents. In November 1974, General Aman Andom, the country's first leader after Haile Selassie, was shot by his former associates over Derg. In mid-1976, several other high-ranking members of Derg were shot. A group of members of the military leadership, including the head of state, General Tefari Bunty, were executed in February 1977. All these repressions testified to the consolidation of the power of Lieutenant Colonel Mengystu Haile Mariam.
Despite the repression, the military promised to carry out reforms. In December 1974, the military government announced its intention to transform the country into a socialist state with a one-party system, collective agriculture and direct state control over "all property useful for economic progress." By order of the authorities, all educational institutions were closed for a year, and students and teachers were sent to rural areas, where they were supposed to explain the goals of state policy to peasants, teach them the principles of sanitation and hygiene, and introduce them to advanced agricultural practices. Many foreign-owned enterprises were nationalized.
In 1975, episodic armed conflicts in Eritrea escalated into widespread war that threatened the existence of the military regime. In 1977, rebels, supported by the Republic of Somalia, captured a number of large settlements in Ogaden during successful battles with government forces. Then Mengystu turned to the USSR with a request for help. In early 1978, the Ethiopian army launched a counteroffensive. Fighting on the side of the rebels, the Somali army was forced to retreat. Following this, government forces launched a powerful offensive against the Eritreans, who, having lost control of the cities, continued to fight in the countryside. The Maoist People's Front for the Liberation of Tigray (PPLF), formed in 1976, gradually developed into a significant force and by early 1984 controlled most of the province. In the early 1980s, the Ethiopian economy, shattered by war, was also hit by a severe drought. In 1983, a terrible famine began in the country, which claimed more than a million human lives by the beginning of 1985.
To expand the support of the Mengystu regime among the masses, a new constitution was adopted in 1987 providing for the creation of a civilian government, but this did not help contain the growth of discontent in the country. By this time, the Eritrean liberation movement was led by the Marxist Popular Front for the Liberation of Eritrea (PNLF), which in 1970 separated from the OPF. In March 1988, the NLOE troops captured the headquarters of the Ethiopian army in Af-Abed. In 1989, the Eritreans helped NPLT take over the Ethiopian headquarters at Ynda Sillas, forcing government forces to withdraw from Tigray territory. Together with other smaller rebel groups, the NPF created the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and by 1991 government forces were holding only Addis Ababa and its environs. In 1990, the NPOE troops captured the port of Massawa, and the following year, the last government military units in the port of Assab and the capital of Eritrea, Asmara, were defeated. In May 1991, on the eve of the capture of Addis Ababa by the EPRDF troops, Mengystu fled the country. The NPT leader Meles Zenawi became the interim president of Ethiopia. The leader of the NPFE, Issayas Afavorki, became President of Eritrea, and the new Ethiopian government had to recognize the de facto independence of this part of the country. In a referendum on the country's future held on April 23-25, 1993 under the auspices of the United Nations, Eritreans voted almost unanimously to secede from Ethiopia. Eritrea was officially declared an independent state on May 24, 1993.
In July 1991, on the initiative of the EPRDF, a nationwide conference was held to discuss the political future of Ethiopia and the formation of a Transitional Government. As a result of its work, it was decided that a State Council, consisting of 87 representatives from 20 political groups and ethnic organizations, will be created to govern the country during a two-year transition period. The Council approved the leader of the NPLT, Meles Zenawi, as the head of the Transitional Government.
In 1991, by order of this government, the territory of Ethiopia was divided into 14 administrative districts headed by the local administration, endowed with limited powers in the management of the regions. Local elections held in April-May 1992 were overshadowed by allegations of misconduct by EPRDF members, who were the majority in the Transitional Government. The ethnic-based opposition Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) withdrew from the election and accused the EPRDF of intimidating its candidates. Together with its allies, the RDFEN received approx. 90% of the popular vote. Soon, members of the OLF, not wanting to put up with their secondary role, withdrew from the Transitional Government. Several other political organizations that previously supported the country's leadership spoke in favor of annulling the election results. In the following years, EPRDF was repeatedly accused of human rights violations and political repression.
In June 1994, national elections were held for the newly created Constituent Assembly, in which the EPRDF won 484 seats out of 547. The elections were boycotted by the OLF and the Amhara Democratic Movement, which was a coalition of about 30 opposition groups. The Constituent Assembly drafted a new constitution, which came into effect in December 1994. It provided for the creation of a federal government and administrative division of the country's territory into nine autonomous states, which had the right to secede from Ethiopia. Under the new constitution, the country was renamed the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Instead of the Constituent Assembly, a bicameral parliament was introduced, consisting of 548 members of the Council of People's Representatives and 117 members of the Federation Council. Members of the lower house are directly elected and members of the Federation Council are elected at meetings of representatives from each of the nine states.
In May 1995, the EPRDF again won a landslide victory in elections for representatives of the nine state congresses and for the Council of People's Representatives. In August of that year, the legislative power of the provisional legislature was officially transferred to the Federation Council. Prolonged droughts and sporadic ethnic conflicts continued to threaten Ethiopia's socio-economic stability.
In the summer of 1998, there was a sharp deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. After Eritrea's secession from Ethiopia in 1993, the border between the two states became the subject of constant disputes. In early June 1998, the Eritrean government announced its claim to an area of \u200b\u200bapprox. 400 sq. km in the province of Tygrai and sent troops there. Ethiopian aircraft raided the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and Eritrean aircraft bombed the Ethiopian city of Mekele. The number of killed and wounded on both sides reached several hundred people. All Eritrean citizens residing in Ethiopia were ordered to leave the country. In both countries, a general mobilization was announced. Attempts by the mediating countries and the Organization of African Unity to help resolve the border conflict did not yield any results. Since the summer of 1998, fighting on the Ethiopian-Eritrean border has subsided and flared up with renewed vigor. At the end of February 1999, Ethiopia launched a large-scale offensive, during which it managed to recapture the area of \u200b\u200bBadme, previously captured.
LITERATURE
Morett F. Equatorial, East and South Africa... M., 1951
Galperin G.L. : population, resources, economy... M., 1976
Modern Ethiopia. Directory... M., 1988
Tsypkin G.V., Yagya V.S. Ethiopia's history in the new and modern times ... M., 1989

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

ETHIOPIA

FEDERATIVE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA
State in East Africa. In the northeast it borders with Eritrea and Djibouti, in the east and southeast - with Somalia, in the southwest - with Kenya, in the west and northwest - with Sudan. The area of \u200b\u200bthe country is about 1,130,000 km2. In the center of the country is the Ethiopian Highlands, which occupies more than half of the territory. The East African Rift crosses the highlands diagonally from northeast to southwest. The average height of the plateau is about 1675 m above sea level, but the rivers flowing through it are at an altitude of only 610 m. In some places there are mountain peaks, the highest of which is Mount Ras Dashan (4620 m). In the north of Ethiopia, there is a picturesque Lake Tana, from which the Blue Nile begins. In the northeast, the highland passes into the coastal plain and the Denakil Desert. In the west, it passes into the Sudanese Desert. In the south and southwest, the highlands gently descend to Lake Turkana (Rudolf). The main rivers of the country are: Webi-Sheveli, Weib, Daua, Abbay (Blue Nile). In addition to Lake Tana, there are small lakes in the south of the country, the largest of which is Lake Abaya.
The population of Ethiopia (as of 1998) is about 58,390,350, with an average population density of about 52 people. Ethnic groups: Oromo - 40%, Amhara - 25%, Tiger - 12%, Shangalla - 6%, Somali, Denakil, Yemenis, Indians, Armenians, Greeks. Language: Amharic (state), Tigre, Galla, English, Arabic, about 70 different local languages. Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Church - 45-50%, Islam - 35-40%, paganism - 12%. The capital is Addis Ababa. Largest cities: Addis Ababa (2,209,000), Diredawa (127,400). Gon-der (95,000 people), Nazret (91,000 people). State structure - transitional government. The head of state is President Negasso Gidada (in office since August 1995). The head of the government is Prime Minister Timirat Lainie (in office since June 6, 1991). The monetary unit is birr. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 46 years - men, 49 years - women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) is 44.7. The mortality rate (per 1000 people) is 21.2.
In the 1st millennium BC. The Kingdom of Sheba subjugated the territories that later became the Ethiopian Empire. By the end of the 2nd century A.D. the kingdom of Aksum was founded, which was ruled by the dynasty of Solomonids, who considered themselves descendants of King Solomon and Queen of Sheba. In the 7th century, the kingdom began to weaken, and in the 10th century, the Muslim dynasty Zagwe took power. In the 13th century, the Christian (Coptic) dynasty returned to the throne. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Ethiopian emperors often turned to European powers for help in their struggle against Muslim conquerors. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Red Sea coast became very attractive for Europeans. Italy focused on Ethiopia, capturing the port of Assab in 1872, and Massawa in 1885. In 1889, an agreement was signed between Italy and Ethiopia, but the Italian version differed from the Amharic one and according to it Ethiopia became an Italian protectorate. As a result, war broke out in 1895, but less than a year later the Italian army suffered a crushing defeat and Italy was forced to recognize the independence of Ethiopia. But 40 years later, during the reign of Benito Mussolini, Italy occupied Ethiopia. In 1941, with the help of British troops, the country was liberated. In the early 1970s, Ethiopia experienced a series of droughts; the mood of the people was used by the military, who staged a military coup on September 12, 1974 and overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie. In March 1975, the country was proclaimed a republic. In 1977, an internal coup took place, as a result of which Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam came to power. In September 1984, the country became known as Socialist Ethiopia, in 1987 - the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In the early 1990s, aid to The Soviet Union regime, which ultimately led to its downfall. In May 1991, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe, and an interim government was created in the country. In May 1993, Eritrea separated from Ethiopia, which had been fighting a war of independence for almost 30 years. Ethiopia is a member of the UN, IMF, WHO, Organization of African Unity.
Ethiopia's climate is highly dependent on altitude. In the tropical zone, located below 1830 m above sea level, the average annual temperature is about 27 ° C, and the average annual rainfall is about 510 mm. In the subtropical zone (1830-2440 m above sea level), the average annual temperature is about 22 ° C, and the norm of precipitation is from 510 to 1530 mm. Above 2,440 m above sea level lies a zone of temperate climate with an average annual temperature of about 16 ° C and an average rainfall of 1270 to 1780 mm. The rainy season usually lasts from mid June to September, sometimes there is a short rainy season in February or March. Usually, in Ethiopia, there is practically no day when the sun does not shine, and one of the tourist mottos sounds: "Ethiopia is a country of 13 months of sun" (according to the Ethiopian calendar, the year is divided into 13 months). The vegetation of the country also depends on the height above sea level and therefore both desert and tropical and alpine vegetation are found in the country.
The fauna is represented quite richly: giraffe, leopard, hippo, lion, elephant, antelope, rhino, lynx, jackal, hyena, several species of monkeys. A large number of birds: eagle, falcon, vulture, heron, partridge, teal and others. Among the many insects, locusts and tsetse flies in the south of the country stand out.
One of the main natural attractions is the picturesque Lake Tana, as well as the Blue Nile waterfalls. Not far from Gonder there is a complex of monasteries of the 13th-15th centuries, which houses several shrines of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, including a miraculous pool, bathing in which cures women from infertility. In Harare: the governor's palace, a Coptic church and several mosques. In Dire Dawa: a huge market. In Addis Ababa: the palace of Emperor Menelik II; Coptic Church of St. George (1896); The Palace of Africa with magnificent stained glass windows; the famous open-air market "Mercato";
Archaeological Museum; Art Museum.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Ethiopia is a state in East Africa, covering an area of \u200b\u200b1.1 million square kilometers. Another name for Ethiopia is Abyssinia, but it is now almost never used. The official language is Amharic. The territory of modern Ethiopia is included in the most ancient area of \u200b\u200bthe formation of human ancestors: the age of the stone tools found here is estimated at about 3 million years. In almost all epochs of antiquity, the country was relatively densely populated, developed by the economy, from the first centuries of our era powerful states existed on its territory. In the 4-6 centuries Ethiopia carried on a lively trade with the Roman-Byzantine Empire, India, and the countries of the Middle East. At the same time, Christianity penetrated here.
The western and central part of the country is occupied by the Ethiopian Highlands with an average height of 1800 m above sea level, although individual mountain ranges and peaks reach 3000 and even 4000 m.The highest peak in Ethiopia is Mount Ras Dashan (4623 m) in the Simmen Mountains. In general, the plateau is characterized by flat-topped mountains, similar to giant tables. The cones of volcanoes, mostly extinct, rise above the plateau. In their dilapidated craters, lakes are often formed, surrounded by a border of tropical greenery. From the Red Sea to the south, Ethiopia is crossed by the rift zone (northern part of the African Great Rift System). In the deep Afar depression, separated from the Red Sea by the low Danakil ridge, the Assale salt lake lies at an elevation of 116 m below sea level. Valley of the Avash River and a chain of rift lakes (the largest is Lake Abaya) stretching to Lake Rudolf in neighboring Kenya (cm. Kenya), separate the Ethiopian Highlands from the Ethiopian-Somali plateau, which occupies the southeast of the country, with prevailing heights of up to 1500 m and individual peaks up to 4310 m (Mount Batu). Due to active faults, Ethiopia is characterized by increased seismicity: earthquakes up to magnitude 5 occur annually, and once every five years, even stronger ones. There are also many hot springs in the rift zone.
The largest river in the country is the Abbay (Blue Nile). Outflowing from Lake Tana, Abbay forms a large and picturesque waterfall Tis-Ysat, and then flows for 500 km in a canyon 1200-1500 m deep. Other large rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean are the Webi-Shebeli and Juba, as well as another tributary Neela - Atbara.
The climate of Ethiopia is subequatorial hot, seasonally humid, in the north-east - tropical desert and semi-desert. The Afar Depression is one of the hottest places on Earth (average minimum temperature 25 ° C, maximum 35 ° C), but in most of the highlands, due to the height, which softens the heat, average monthly temperatures range from 15 to 26 ° C. Night frosts occur in the mountains. At the same time, on the coasts, the hottest month is May, the coldest month is January, and in the mountains it is vice versa: the coolest month is July, the hottest months are December and January. It rains mainly from July to September, although there is also a “small wet season” in March – April. The dry season lasts from September to February. The average annual precipitation is from 200–500 mm on the plains to 1000–1500 mm (even up to 2000 mm) in the mountains of the central and southwestern regions. The plains often suffer from severe droughts when there is no rain almost all year round.
A third of the country's territory is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, especially the lifeless rocky deserts of the Afar depression and the Danakil desert. In the east of Ethiopia, there are grassy savannas and forest savannas with umbrella-shaped acacias, and in the southwestern part of the country, in river valleys and in the mountains at an altitude of 1700-1800 m, rainforests grow with palm trees, wild coffee trees, arboreal milkweed, sycamores (giant ficuses) ... At altitudes of more than 3000 m, tropical analogs of alpine forests are developed. The fauna is still rich, despite the extermination of animals over the centuries: elephants, zebras, antelopes, lions, servals, leopards, hyenas are found in the savannas, ostriches are found in the Danakil semi-desert. The world of birds is especially diverse, and in the coastal waters of the Red Sea, the fauna of coral reefs is of great interest. For the protection of fauna, reserves and national parks have been created: on the Avash River, Abiyata Lake, Mannagash Forest Park, etc.
Most of the population of Ethiopia (76 million people) belongs to the Ethiopian race - intermediate between Caucasoid and Negroid. Thin facial features, wavy hair, tall stature and chocolate-colored skin make most Ethiopians extraordinarily beautiful. The peoples of the country speak the Semitic (which includes the state - Amharic) and Kushite languages. Part of the population belongs to the Negroid race. The Amhara and Oromo peoples make up 3/4 of the population. The two main religions are Islam and Christianity, but approximately 10% of residents adhere to local traditional beliefs. The main occupations are agriculture, cattle breeding, and crafts. Most residents build round huts with a cone-shaped thatch roof. Traditional clothing is preserved - long dresses and capes, often decorated with ornaments and rich embroidery.
The capital of the country, Addis Ababa, located at an altitude of 2400 m, is called the "city of eternal spring" because of the temperate climate all year round. The city was founded in 1885, but now it is dominated by modern buildings. Addis Ababa is famous for its huge bazaar. The second largest city, Asmara, is located in the north of the country. It is also considered to be the most comfortable and beautiful city in Ethiopia. Gondar (north of Lake Tana) until the middle of the 19th century was the capital of the empire, which is reminiscent of the castles of the 16-18 centuries, it houses a historical museum.

- a state in northeast Africa. 1.1 million km & sup2. population 52 million people (1993), mainly the peoples of Amhara (about 40% of the population), Oromo (over 40%), Tigers and others (more than 100 peoples). Urban population 12.3% (1993). Official language… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Socialist Ethiopia, a state in northeastern Africa. The many-sided ancient art of Ethiopia combines the traditions of African culture, the legacy of ancient Eastern art, the original rethinking of Christian architectural ... ... Art encyclopedia

Have you decided to organize a vacation in Ethiopia? Looking for the best Ethiopia hotels, hot tours, resorts and last minute tours? Interested in the weather in Ethiopia, prices, cost of the tour, do you need a visa to Ethiopia and would a detailed map be useful? Would you like to see what Ethiopia looks like in photos and videos? What are the excursions and attractions in Ethiopia? What are the stars and reviews about hotels in Ethiopia?

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a landlocked country in East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia and unrecognized Somaliland to the east, Kenya to the south and Sudan to the west.

Ethiopia is the highest mountainous country on the African continent. A significant part of its territory is occupied by the Ethiopian Highlands, stretching from north to south of Ethiopia. The highest part of the highland is the northern one. The highest points of the country are located here - Ras Dashen (4620 m) and Talo (4413 m). In the east, the highland drops abruptly into the Afar depression, one of the lowest points in Africa.

The western part of the Ethiopian Highlands has a gentler relief and descends in small steps towards the Sudanese border. Plains also occupy a significant part of Ethiopia's territory. The largest is located in the east of the country. In some places it turns into a plateau with a height of over 1000 m. This is one of the driest parts of Ethiopia. Also small plains, sandwiched between mountain ranges, are located in the north and west of the country.

Ethiopia airport

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Ethiopia hotels 1 - 5 stars

Weather in Ethiopia

The entire territory of Ethiopia is located in the subequatorial and equatorial climatic zones. But the fact that most of the country is located in the Ethiopian Highlands explains Ethiopia's milder and wetter climate. The temperature here all year round is + 25-30 ° С and there is a sufficient amount of precipitation.

The eastern regions of Ethiopia are the exact opposite - they have a hot and dry desert climate. In general, Ethiopia is not characterized by temperature changes during the year. The only difference is night and day temperatures: the difference here is about 15 degrees.

Language of Ethiopia

Official language: Amharic

Somali, Arabic, English are widely spoken. 70 languages \u200b\u200band dialects of the Semitic-Hamitic and Kushite language groups.

Ethiopian currency

International name: ETB

Byr is equal to 100 cents.

The dollar is preferred over the euro. Often, you can exchange euros only in banks, while dollars are freely accepted both in hotels and when making large purchases and paying for services.

You can exchange cash (dollars and euros) at banks and some hotels. Credit cards and travel checks are accepted in a few places: mainly in the offices of foreign airlines. Currency is also exchanged openly on the streets and in small shops, but at a rate higher than the official one, and no certificates are given, which means that there will be problems at customs.

Customs restrictions in Ethiopia

You can import foreign currency into the country without restrictions, but the declaration is mandatory. The imported amount must be exchanged within 3 months. It is strongly recommended not to lose the declaration. Export and import of national currency is limited. Gold and platinum items must be declared upon entry and exit.

Prohibited to import: drugs, pornography, small arms. It is prohibited to export: rhino horns; gold and diamonds not marked in the entry declaration; ivory and products from it; skins of wild animals; coffee beans (if there are no documents confirming the legality of the purchase).

Mains voltage: 220V

Tip

Tipping is 5-10% in large and hotel restaurants, in small and private establishments - at the discretion of the guest.

Security

Small-scale street crime is widespread, with entire gangs most often working.

It is recommended to exercise the utmost care in nutrition. Food storage concepts can differ significantly from those accepted in Europe, which leads to poisoning and illness. It is not recommended to drink tap water, but rather to use bottled mineral water even for brushing your teeth.

It is not recommended to express your opinion about the existing order and lifestyle of local residents, especially to talk about religion. Theological discussions evoke strong emotions among the inhabitants of the country, which are not always friendly towards tourists.

Country code: +251

Geographic first level domain name: .et