Harar

The fortified settlement spans 48 hectares at an elevation of 1,885 meters, containing over 2,000 traditional houses within limestone walls.

The city gained prominence in 1520 as the capital of the Adal Sultanate under Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad during Islamic expansion into Ethiopia.

The presence of 82 mosques and 102 shrines within the compact urban area establishes Harar as the fourth holiest city in Islamic tradition.

The five gates of Jugol wall lead visitors through narrow lanes to markets selling local coffee, textiles, spices, and traditional crafts.

Local residents maintain a generations-old tradition of feeding wild hyenas each evening near the eastern gate of the city walls.

Location: Harari Region

Elevation above the sea: 1,885 m

Website: https://hararcity.gov.et

GPS coordinates: 9.31184,42.12844

Latest update: June 17, 2025 18:50