Ethiopia. Ethiopia (Ethiopia) Climate map of Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The name of the country comes from the ancient Greek name Aythopia, which is derived from "aythopi", which means "burnt faces".
Ethiopia square. 1133882 km2.
Ethiopian population. 99.39 million people (
Ethiopian GDP. $55.61 billion (
Location of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a state in Eastern. In the northeast it borders with and, in the east and southeast - with, in the southwest - with, in the west and northwest - with.
Administrative divisions of Ethiopia. The state is divided into 14 provinces.
Ethiopian form of government. Republic.
Ethiopian head of state. The president.
Ethiopia's highest legislature. Federal Assembly (bicameral parliament - Council of the Federation and Council of the People
Ethiopia's supreme executive body. Government.
Major cities in Ethiopia. Dire-Dawa, Gonder, Nazret.
Official language of Ethiopia. Amharic.
Religion in Ethiopia. 50% - adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, 40% - Muslims, 10% - pagans.
Ethnic composition of Ethiopia. 40% Oromo, 25% Amhara. In total, over 100 nationalities and nationalities.
Ethiopian currency. Ethiopian birr = 100 cents.
Climate of Ethiopia. The climate of Ethiopia depends on the height above sea level. At a level below 1830 m above sea level, there is a tropical zone, where the average annual temperature is about + 27 ° С. At an altitude of 1830-2440 m above sea level, there is a subtropical zone - here the average annual temperature is + 22 ° C, above lies a zone with about + 16 ° C. The rainy season usually lasts from mid-June to September, sometimes a short rainy season occurs in February or March. The average annual rainfall is from 200-500 mm to 1000-2000 mm in the mountains. Afar is one of the hottest places on earth.
Ethiopian fauna. Among the representatives of the animal world (rather rich, despite the extermination) can be called a giraffe, leopard, hippopotamus, lion, elephant, antelope, rhinoceros, lynx, jackal, hyena, monkeys. A large number of birds live here, including an eagle, a falcon, a vulture, an ostrich, a heron, a partridge, a teal. Of the insects, locusts and tsetse flies stand out especially.
Geographical position: Ethiopia is located in North East Africa. It borders Eritrea and Djibouti in the northeast, Somalia in the east and southeast, Kenya in the southwest, and Sudan in the west and northwest. In the northeast it is washed by the Red Sea. Most of the territory of Ethiopia 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 northeast is the Afar depression, in the southeast - the Ethiopian-Somali plateau. Almost the entire territory of Ethiopia is a zone of high seismicity. The country's largest lake is Tana, where the Abbay River (Blue Nile) originates. Significant water arteries are also the Tekaze River in the north of the country, the Baro and Gilo rivers in the south. The total area of the country is 1.13 million square meters. km. The total length of the border is 5,311 km.
Capital: Addis Ababa. The population of the city is 3,041,002 inhabitants (as of 2012). It is the world's largest city located in a landlocked country. It has the status of a separate region of Ethiopia.
Language: Amharic (official language). About 70 different local languages are also used.
Religion: Ethiopia is the only traditionally Christian African country. One of its main religions is Eastern Christianity (the Ethiopian Church), and the positions of Islam are also strong in all peripheral regions. The Ethiopian Church adheres to Miaphysitism. Lutheranism has been actively spreading among the Oromo people in recent decades. Other Protestant groups include Presbyterians, Baptists, Adventists, and Assemblies of God believers. According to the 1994 census: Christians - 60.8% (Miaphysites - 50.6%, Protestants - 10.2%), Muslims - 32.8%, African cults - 4.6%, others - 1.8%.
Time: The time difference in Ethiopia is -1 hour (relative to Moscow time). The entire territory of the country is in the same time zone. The country does not implement summer/winter time, so the time difference remains the same throughout the year.
Climate: The entire territory of Ethiopia is located in the equatorial and subequatorial zones. But the fact that most of the country is located on the Ethiopian highlands explains Ethiopia's milder and wetter climate. The temperature here is + 25 ... + 30 all year round and there is a sufficient amount of precipitation. The complete opposite is the eastern regions of Ethiopia - there is a hot and dry desert climate. Night frosts occur in the mountains. At the same time, on the coasts, the hottest month is May, the coldest is January, and in the mountains it is vice versa: the coolest month is July, the hottest are December and January. Ethiopia is not characterized by temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The rainy season usually lasts from mid-June to September, sometimes in February or March there is a short rainy season. Average annual precipitation: from 200-500 mm in the plains to 1000-1500 mm in the mountains of the central and southwestern regions.
Currency: Ethiopian birr (ETB), equal to 100 cents. In cash circulation there are denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 birr and coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents. 1 USD = 19.39 ETB. You can exchange cash (dollars and euros) at banks and some hotels. Currency is also exchanged openly on the streets and in small shops, but at a rate of 10% higher than the official one, and they do not give certificates, which means that there will be problems at customs. A tourist is free to pay for hotel accommodation in any currency convenient for him. The dollar is the preferred currency over the euro. Often, euros can only be exchanged at banks, while dollars are freely accepted both in hotels and when making large purchases and paying for services. Credit cards and traveler's checks in Ethiopia are accepted in a few places: mainly in the offices of foreign airlines.
Mains voltage and socket type: 220 V, AC frequency - 50 Hz; plug sockets have two European-style sockets (an adapter for Russian plugs is generally not needed).
Customs: It is allowed to import and export birr across the borders with third countries only in the amount of not more than 10 birr (about 1.5 USD). This rule does not apply to the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, through which any number of birrs can be transported in any direction. The import of cash foreign currency into the country is not limited, however, the imported currency must be declared when crossing customs control upon entry. The entire amount of imported foreign cash must be exchanged for Ethiopian birrs within three months from the date of registration of the declaration. It is not recommended to lose the customs declaration in any case. It is also necessary to carefully collect and store certificates of currency exchange for birr in authorized institutions. Officially, upon departure, you can convert the amount for which you have certificates of the initial exchange, minus 30 USD for each day spent in this country. But in practice, Addis Ababa airport officials refuse to convert more than a hundred birrs. The export of the national currency outside Ethiopia is prohibited.
Jewelry made of gold and platinum is subject to mandatory declaration both upon entry and exit. The import of small arms, drugs, pornography is prohibited. It is forbidden to export ivory and products from it, rhinoceros horn, skins of wild animals, gold and diamonds that are not marked in the entry declaration, coffee beans (without documents confirming the legality of their acquisition).
Population and culture: One of the most populated countries on the African continent (82.1 million people in 2011): in terms of population among the countries of northern Africa, it is second only to Egypt. Ethiopia has a very complex ethnic composition of the population (more than 80 ethnic groups, not counting the tribes), with the dominance of the Amhara and Oromo. The majority of the population lives in rural areas. Ethnic composition (largest): Oromo - 16.6 million people, Amhara - 15.5 million, Tigray - 3.25 million, Gurage - approx. 3 million, Sidamo, Volai, Somali and Tigre - each more than 1 million, Afars - approx. 600 thousand, Cushite ethnic groups (Kembatta, Kaffa, Yem, etc.) and Nilo-Saharan ethnic groups (Nuer, Anuak, Kunama, Berta, etc.).
The multi-layered culture of Ethiopia is based on biblical civilization, influenced by contacts with the ancient cultures of the Middle East. At the same time, it is a very isolated culture. Religions largely determined Ethiopian culture, but none of the world religions - Judaism, Christianity, Islam - was accepted in its pure, unchanged form. The confrontation with various external forces kept the culture of Ethiopia practically unchanged for thousands of years and surrounded its history with a touch of mysticism. The Islamic conquerors were unable to annex the Amharic kingdom to any of the powerful empires that flourished alongside it. European colonizers, missionaries, and even the fascist leader Mussolini failed to take over the state. The Italian Africanist historian Conti-Rossini calls Ethiopia a "museum of peoples" - ethnic diversity is represented by about 80 groups with different traditions and language. The literature of Ethiopia (and writing is a sign of civilization) has about two millennia. Until the 8th century, literature, mostly sacred texts, was written in the Geez language. Now this language is used only in worship, like Old Church Slavonic. The creation of the first works in the Amharic language dates back to the 19th century. The main educational and cultural centers for centuries were monasteries, like monasteries in Europe. Crafts and arts flourished here, utensils, icons and ancient manuscripts have been preserved.
Kitchen: Ethiopian cuisine does not find analogies with other regions of the world. The main food of the Abyssinian is ynzhera (a kind of pancake sour-tasting bread made from local cereal - teff), which they eat dipped in a sauce of flour and pepper. Oil and meat can be added to it. They eat spicy meat sauces - "here", a lot of spices. The most common dish in modern Ethiopia is "wot", which is a stewed onion with boiled eggs, richly seasoned with spices (either meat or beans are added if desired). In the past, the favorite national dish of the Abyssinian was fresh raw meat (“bryndo”). A huge sirloin or haunch is held over a basket around which the diners sit. Everyone takes a fancy to a piece and cuts it out. The inevitable consequence of this was helminthiasis. Therefore, once every two months, the Abyssinians used an anthelmintic from the berries of the kusso tree.
Favorite drinks are barley beer (“tellya”), alcoholic drink “tej” (made from honey and leaves of the “gesho” shrub) and, of course, coffee. Drinking coffee has acquired the character of a ritual, a special ceremony. This action can be seen in almost all restaurants and cafes in Ethiopia. An indispensable attribute in this case is the burning of incense, which should be saturated with coffee. Sugar, special butter and herbs are also added to coffee.
Tips: Tipping is 5-10% in large and hotel restaurants, in small and private establishments - at the discretion of the guest. Taxi drivers don't expect tips.
Souvenirs: In Ethiopia, you can find curious souvenirs worthy of becoming gifts for loved ones. These are delightful wicker boxes, amazing trays, original woolen carpets, uncomplicated wooden figurines, interesting pumpkin vessels, small chairs that different tribes give their shape and endow with their purpose. Perhaps the most excellent gifts will be Ethiopian honey and real coffee, which will bring real pleasure. As souvenirs, handicrafts, embroidered soft toys (most often rhinos and camels), traditional Ethiopian knives with leather sheaths, and jewelry are brought from Ethiopia. When buying souvenirs, keep in mind that it is forbidden to export items made of ivory, rhinoceros tusks, items made of gold, platinum and diamonds from the country.
Air travel: There are no direct flights to Ethiopia from Russia. You can get to Ethiopia by plane through transit routes through third countries. The most convenient and cheapest routes are Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, EgyptAir via Cairo, and Emirates Airline via Dubai. In addition, the national carrier Ethiopian Airlines is one of the five largest airlines in Africa and operates regular flights to most countries on the African continent. Ethiopia's largest airport Bole (ADD) is located a few kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa.
CLIMATE, WEATHER
Ethiopia is a landlocked country in northeastern Africa with an area of 1,104,000 km2. Its closest neighbors are North and South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya. The capital is Addis Ababa.
It is a country with great geographic diversity. It has high and rugged mountains, flat tops, deep gorges, valleys and vast plains. The huge central mountain plateau - the Ethiopian Highlands - has an average height of 1800-2400 m. Here are the main mountain peaks of the country, including the highest point: Ras Dashen (4620 m). The lowest point of the country is the Danakil depression (148 m below sea level). Most of the country consists of high plateaus and mountain ranges with steep edges, dissected by swift streams, which are tributaries of famous rivers such as the Abai (Blue Nile).
Ethiopia has three main climatic zones: tropical rainy climate, dry climate and warm temperate rainy climate. In the highlands (above 2400 m), the average daily temperature is considered "moderate", where the temperature ranges from 0°C to +16°C. The rains start in June and usually end in September. In the north-east of the country (1500-2400 m), where droughts are common, you can rely less on rains. On the mountain ranges of the south you can sometimes see snow. The temperature in the Danakil depression (and below 1500 m) can reach +50C. Details of weather conditions in Ethiopia can be found in the weather calendar by month.
Weather in Ethiopia in January
The average temperature in the capital (2400 m) and in the southwest (1800 m) in January is +24°C…+27°C during the day and +8°C…12°C at night. 4 rainy days and 20-40 mm of precipitation are expected here. It is warmer in the east (height above sea level - 1200 m). During the day +28°C…+35°C, and night temperatures average +15°C…+21°C. 2 days are expected with precipitation, the level of which can reach 20 mm.
Weather in Ethiopia in February
The average air temperature this month does not differ significantly from the previous winter months. The air temperature in the center and in the south-west fluctuates between +24°C…+28°C during the day, and drops to +9°C…+13°C at night. For 4-5 rainy days, 45-50 mm of precipitation will fall. In the east and southeast +29°C…+37°C is expected during the day, and +15°C…+21°C at night. For 2 rainy days, 35 mm of precipitation falls.
Weather in Ethiopia in March
The air temperature during daylight hours varies in the center and in the south-west within +25°С…+28°C and +10°C…+13°С - after sunset. For 5-7 bad weather days, 70-80 mm of precipitation falls. In the east and southeast +31°C…+37°C during the day and +18°С…+23°C at night. The level of precipitation reaches 70 mm in 3-4 rainy days.
Weather in Ethiopia in April
The air temperature in the center and in the south-west fluctuates at +24°С…+27°С during the day, and at night it drops to +11°С…+13°C. It rains for 7-9 days and the level of precipitation reaches 90-180 mm. In the east and southeast +32°C…+36°C during the day and +19°C…+24°C at night. For 5 rainy days, 75-105 mm of precipitation falls.
Weather in Ethiopia in May
During daylight hours, the thermometer in the center and south-west rises to +25°С…+27°С, and after sunset it drops to +11°С…+13°С. In May, only 7-10 rainy days are expected here with 100-150 mm of precipitation. In the east and southeast during the day +33°C…+35°C, and at night +20°C…+23°C. For 4-6 rainy days, 35-60 mm of precipitation falls.
Weather in Ethiopia in June
In the first summer month, the average air temperature in the center and south-west during the daytime will be +23°С…+25°С. After sunset, the air cools down to +10°С…+13°С. 11-12 rainy days will bring 135-220 mm of precipitation to these areas. In the east and southeast during the day +34°C…+35°C, and at night +21°С…+23°C. The level of precipitation reaches 30 mm in 4 rainy days.
Weather in Ethiopia in July
In the middle of summer, in the afternoon, the thermometer in the east and southeast will reach + 32 ° С ... + 33 ° С, and after sunset + 18 ° С ... + 23 ° С. For a month, 6 days are rainy and the level of precipitation reaches 95 mm. In the south-west and in the center during the day the air warms up to +21°С…+24°С, and at night it drops to +10°С…+13°С. For 11-14 rainy days, the level of precipitation will reach 230-280 mm.
Weather in Ethiopia in August
The air temperature during daylight hours varies in the center and in the south-west within +21°С…+24°C and +10°C…+13°С - after sunset. For 14-16 bad weather days, 210-295 mm of precipitation falls. In the east and southeast during the day +31°C…+34°C, and at night +17°С…+23°C. The level of precipitation reaches 130 mm, for 7 rainy days.
Weather in Ethiopia in September
The air temperature in the center and in the south-west fluctuates at +22°С…+25°С during the day, and at night it drops to +10°С…+13°C. It rains for 12-13 days and the level of precipitation reaches 190 mm. In the east and southeast during the day +32°C…+36°C, and at night +18°C…+23°C. For 2-6 rainy days, 15-75 mm of precipitation falls.
Weather in Ethiopia in October
In mid-autumn in the afternoon, the thermometer in the east and southeast will reach + 33 ° С ... + 35 ° С, and after sunset + 17 ° С ... + 23 ° С. It rains for 4-6 days a month and the level of precipitation reaches 30-70 mm. In the south-west and in the center during the day the air warms up to +23°С…+26°С, and at night it drops to +9°С…+12°С. For 3-6 rainy days, the level of precipitation will reach 25-85 mm.
Weather in Ethiopia in November
The air temperature during daylight hours varies in the center and south-west within +23°С…+26°C and +7°C…+12°С after sunset. For 1-4 bad days, 15-40 mm of precipitation falls. In the east and southeast during the day +31°C…+35°C, and at night +15°С…+21°C. The level of precipitation reaches 15-25 mm in 3 rainy days.
Weather in Ethiopia in December
In the first winter month, the average air temperature in the center and in the south-west during the daytime will be +23°С…+27°С. After sunset, the air cools down to +7°С…+12°С. For 2-3 bad days, 10-35 mm of precipitation falls. In the east and southeast +28°C…+35°C during the day, and +16°С…+20°C at night. Precipitation reaches 00 mm in one rainy day.
- an African country, but against the general background, it is noticeably distinguished by the uniqueness of its culture and traditions.
So, Ethiopian writing is more than 2000 years old. The ancestors of the current Ethiopians learned to write as early as the 5th-4th centuries BC, and today the Ethiopian alphabet is considered one of the most complex; even the computer keyboard layout has several options.
Another surprising fact: in Ethiopia, adherents of various religions coexist relatively peacefully. Christians make up more than 80% of believers, and more than 70% of them are Orthodox. The rest - Muslims, Jews, animists (believers in nature spirits) and other smaller concessions - try to live in peace and avoid conflict, although this is not always easy. There is no official religion in Ethiopia, but the country's Constitution guarantees freedom of religion; the government often has to actively work to prevent tensions from arising, and it manages to do this quite successfully.
Where is Ethiopia
Ethiopia is located in northeast Africa, and has no access to the sea, although it is very close to it: in several places the coast of the Red Sea is just over 100 km away.
The country has many neighbors. In the north - Eritrea: after its separation, access to the sea was lost; in the northeast - Djibouti, a state whose capital has now become the only seaport for Ethiopia. In the east - borders with Somalia and Somaliland - a small unrecognized state; in the northwest - with Sudan, in the southwest - with South Sudan.
Climate and weather in Ethiopia
Ethiopia also stands out for its relief features: in Africa, it is considered the “most mountainous” country. The Ethiopian Highlands occupies more than half of the territory. This has a decisive influence on the climate: it is wetter and milder than it could be. After all, the country is located in hot zones - tropical and subequatorial. In the east, where the territories are flat, it is much drier and hotter, but the subequatorial climate is considered to be predominant.
There are no such sharply opposite temperatures at different times of the year, as in other countries, in Ethiopia: in winter, the air is 6-7 ° C colder than in summer. But the time of day is another matter. The difference between day and night temperatures can be as much as 15°C, so you should always have both "summer" and "winter" clothing with you. It rains in April and May, and then in October and November; the coldest time is from November to February: it can even drop below 0°C.
The main attractions of Ethiopia
The capital of Addis Ababa is a city with a mild and even climate, famous for the fact that many people of different nationalities and religions live in it. The city is sometimes called the “African Paris”, and also one of the high-mountain capitals of the world, with the highest point of 3000 m. There are many interesting museums in Addis Ababa, but the National Museum is considered the main one, where you can see the fossil remains of the distant ancestor of modern people - Australopithecus, which are considered the oldest in the world.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is central in Ethiopia, but the main Orthodox church of the capital is the Cathedral of St. George. It is small - for about 200 people, an unusual octagonal shape; built in honor of St. George, after the victory over the Italian invaders at the end of the 19th century.
Cultural attractions include the Mercato market, known far beyond the borders of the country: it is even considered the largest on the entire continent. Located in the open air, it is filled with many different goods: about 13 thousand merchants work here, more than 7 thousand outlets, and you can buy everything from livestock to the best coffee in the world - after all, Ethiopia is its homeland.
It is interesting that there is a monument to Pushkin here - the only one in Africa, and on the street of his own name. However, this is not so surprising: it is possible that the poet's ancestors were indeed Ethiopians, although this has not been proven for sure.
In general, the historical heritage for an African country is surprisingly rich: even BC. e. Ancient civilizations flourished in Ethiopia.
Aksum is widely known - the main historical monument of the north of the country, which was the center of a great and rich empire 3000 years ago. Most of the legendary palaces, including the palaces of the Queen of Sheba, are now ruins, but everything is arranged in such a way that it still attracts tourists.
Not very far from Aksum is the Debre Damo Monastery with a 16th century church. To get into it, you need to climb a rope ladder; women are not allowed there.
The Yeha Temple, dated by scientists to the 7th century BC, and also located quite close to Aksum, deserves a separate description. Let's just say that it was built so perfectly and geometrically ideally that not only historians are interested in it, but also ufologists who believe that it could not have done without an alien mind. The temple was built of sandstone, without mortar: what remains of its walls makes a strong impression on many modern builders.
In the north of the country there is the city of Lalibela, famous for its churches carved high into the rocks. Almost all the inhabitants here are Orthodox. There are 13 churches, and they are all interconnected; their architectural style is unique, some of them are active. Every year thousands of pilgrims flock here: Lalibela, thanks to these unique buildings, is included in the UNESCO List.
Gondar is also a city in the north of the country, and also legendary, with many palaces built mainly from the 17th to the 19th century. Palaces are like castles; in their architecture, one can note Arabic, Indian, and European features of the Baroque style. The fortress of Fasil Gebbi is especially famous: in the 17th century it was the imperial residence, and Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia.
Harer is a Muslim city that arose in the 16th century and has long been an important religious and commercial center. There are 99 mosques here; the historical center is surrounded by ancient walls. Of interest are the Coptic Church (Copts are Christians, descendants of Egyptians), the governor's palace and craft workshops: in local shops you can buy many beautiful products made by local craftsmen. Even in Harare there is a completely exotic custom that shocks European tourists. With the onset of night, flocks of hyenas are “invited” to the streets of the city: animals patrol the streets, and local residents consider this a boon. In Ethiopia, hyenas have long been considered protectors from evil spirits, and they are wonderful orderlies: problems with food waste are solved quickly and easily.
About 80 different nationalities live in Ethiopia, as well as many religious and linguistic groups of people, which speaks of the very colorful nature of this country. Ethiopia is a combination of poverty and wealth, urbanization and nature. In this country, you can see rock temples, the largest African market, unique nature and no less unique wildlife.
Geography
Ethiopia is located in East Africa. It borders Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south. There is no access to the sea. The total area of this state is 1,104,300 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 5,328 km.
Most of Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa, which is the easternmost part of the African continent. The territory of this African country is very diverse - there are not only lowlands, steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, but also mountains, as well as tropical forests. In general, about 70% of the country's territory is occupied by the Ethiopian highlands. The highest local peak is Mount Ras Dashen, whose height reaches 4,620 meters.
Ethiopian capital
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. The population of this city is now more than 3 million people. Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by the Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II.
Official language of Ethiopia
The official language is Amharic, belonging to the Ethiopian group of the South Semitic branch of the Semitic language family.
Religion
About 62 residents are Christians (Ethiopian Eastern Christian Church and Protestants), about 32% are Muslims, and about 2.6% consider themselves supporters of traditional African religious cults.
State structure
According to the Constitution of 1995, Ethiopia is a federal democratic republic headed by a President elected for 6 years.
The bicameral Ethiopian parliament is called the Federal Parliamentary Assembly, it consists of the Federation Council (110 people) and the Council of People's Representatives (547 deputies).
The main political parties are the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front, the Somali Democratic Party and the Benishangul-Gumuz Peoples' Democratic Party.
Administratively, the country is divided into 9 states and two self-governing cities (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa).
Climate and weather
Ethiopia has three climatic zones, depending on the altitude. It is cooler in the highlands and hot in the lowlands. Kolla (tropical zone) - the average annual air temperature is +27C, and the average annual rainfall is 510 mm. Woina dega (subtropical zone) - the average annual air temperature is + 22C, and the average annual rainfall is from 510 to 1,530 mm. Dega (cold zone) - the average annual air temperature is +16C, and the average annual rainfall is 1,270 mm.
The rainy season starts in June and ends in September. The dry season is from October to May (this is the best time to visit Ethiopia).
Rivers and lakes
The most full-flowing Ethiopian rivers flow in the west of the country. This is, first of all, the Blue Nile River, whose length reaches 1,600 kilometers. To the north is Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile.
culture
Ethiopia is home to over 80 ethnic groups of people, each with their own language, culture and traditions. In this country, men and women have clearly defined roles in society. Traditionally, men are responsible for representing the family outside the home, while women are responsible for all housework and for the children.
Ethiopian parents are often more strict with their daughters than with their sons. In general, men have more freedom than women. However, over time, the roles of men and women, even in such a traditional society as the Ethiopian, are gradually changing.
In Ethiopia, you can still find tribes that do not wear any clothes at all. People in these tribes simply decorate their bodies with tattoos.
Kitchen
Ethiopian cuisine is unique even for Africa, it has developed in isolation from the culinary traditions of other African countries. It should be noted that Ethiopians do not eat pork for religious reasons.
A traditional Ethiopian dish is "wat", which is a hot spicy stew with a large thin pancake (flat cake) "injera". There are many varieties of "wat" (chicken, lamb, beef, vegetables, lentils, peas). Often this dish is served with hot spices called "berbere".
Berbere is made from dried hot red peppers, herbs, spices, dried onions, garlic and salt. Usually "wat" is placed on "berbere". This dish, however, like many others, is eaten by Ethiopians with their hands.
We also recommend trying Asa wat (fish stew), Doro wat (chicken stew), Enkulal (omelette with peppers and tomatoes), Kai wat (very spicy beef, or goat or sheep meat), Messer "(lentil curry), "Shiro" (mashed chickpeas), "Tere sega" (raw meat, considered a delicacy), "Tibs" (fried lamb with garlic and vegetables).
Traditional soft drink - "bunna" (coffee) The preparation of "bunna" in Ethiopia is very unique, and therefore this process is called "coffee ceremony".
Traditional alcoholic beverages are tella (Ethiopian barley beer), tej (honey fermented alcoholic beverage) and kaitaka (strong alcoholic grain beverage).
Ethiopia Attractions
Ethiopia has many interesting sights. It can even be said that a trip to any attraction is even more interesting than it in itself.
In Addis Ababa, we recommend that you definitely visit the National Museum, which has a huge collection of objects that tell about the centuries-old history of Ethiopia. Also, do not forget to see the largest African market "Merkato" in the Ethiopian capital, the palace of Emperor Menelik II, the Archaeological Museum and the Coptic Church of St. George, built in 1896 in honor of the victory over the Italian colonialists.
Of great interest to tourists is the medieval city of Lalibela, in which 11 rock temples have survived to this day.
In the north of the country there is a huge granite obelisk of Aksum, built in the 3rd century AD. Its weight is 160 tons. In the late 1930s, the Italians removed this historical monument from Ethiopia, and returned it only at the beginning of the 20th century.
Cities and resorts
The largest cities are Addis Ababa (more than 3 million people), Dire Dawa (more than 355 thousand people), Nazreet (more than 300 thousand people), Gondar (250 thousand people) and Mekele (220 thousand people) .
Most tourists come to Ethiopia to see the sights of this country, look at its cities, get acquainted with the customs of the locals and the unique local nature.
Souvenirs/Shopping
As souvenirs, handicrafts, embroidered soft toys (most often rhinos and camels), traditional Ethiopian knives with leather sheaths, jewelry, Ethiopian coffee beans are brought from Ethiopia.
