Ethiopia, Federal republic in East Africa
Description
Ethiopia is an East African country stretching from the Danakil Depression to the peaks of Ras Dashan, shaped by plateaus, valleys and volcanic chains. The territory includes the Great Rift Valley, which divides the highlands into western and eastern halves and creates numerous lakes and river valleys.
History
The Empire of Abyssinia emerged in the 13th century under the Solomonic dynasty and preserved its independence through centuries of Ottoman and European expansions. The defeat of the Italian army at Adwa in 1896 made the country the only African state never permanently colonized.
Culture
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church shapes daily life with its monasteries, rock-hewn churches and pilgrimage sites scattered across the land. During fasting periods many people eat vegetarian meals, and liturgical chants in Ge'ez echo from churches in the early morning hours.
Practical
The capital Addis Ababa sits above 2400 meters (7874 feet), which travelers may notice in the first few days and requires gradual adjustment. Many regions feature mountainous terrain, which means longer travel times between places and calls for careful trip planning.
Did you know?
The country follows its own calendar, which runs seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar and counts 13 months. Time is measured differently, with the day starting at sunrise at zero hour and the night restarting at sunset.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (North Shewa (Oromia Region)).
This collection brings together around 30 travel destinations that sit outside the usual tourist routes. You will find cities, natural regions, and historical sites where tourism still operates on a human scale. What these places share: you can travel here without encountering the overcrowding that...
Ethiopia offers photographers a range of subjects from medieval architecture to geologically active zones. In the north, Lalibela features eleven churches carved from solid tuff rock during the 12th and 13th centuries, while Axum holds obelisks from the Aksumite Empire that flourished from the 1st...
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
405 km
Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion
436.3 km
Danakil Depression
483.1 km
Church of Saint George
207 km
Obelisk of Axum
436.5 km
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region
447.1 km
Erta Ale
436.5 km
Dallol
483.2 km
Holy Trinity Cathedral
132.1 km
Fasil Ghebbi
296.3 km
Abuna Yemata Guh
419.1 km
Ras Dashen
338.1 km
Monolithic churches in Lalibela
206.7 km
Imperial Palace, Addis Ababa
132.7 km
Omo River
252.4 km
Simien Mountains National Park
336.9 km
Blue Nile Falls
183.7 km
Ezana Stone
437.1 km
Bale Mountains National Park
410.1 km
Awash National Park
200.2 km
Ethiopia Museum of Art and Science
133.1 km
Sof Omar Caves
440.9 km
Mount Entoto
124.2 km
National Museum of Ethiopia
131.2 km
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Headquarters
133.5 km
Debre Damo
468.5 km
Debre Libanos
59.6 km
Addis Mercato
131.9 km
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