The Gedeo Cultural Landscape, Cultural landscape in South Ethiopia region, Ethiopia
The Gedeo Cultural Landscape is an agricultural area on steep mountain slopes along the eastern edge of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Trees, grains, and coffee grow in layered systems across the hillsides, interspersed with ancient stone monuments and patches of protected forest.
The landscape developed over centuries as the Gedeo people settled and shaped the land, gradually establishing the farming patterns seen today. More than 6000 megalithic stone monuments placed along mountain ridges mark the area's ancient past and represent some of the oldest known structures in East Africa.
The Gedeo people practice farming methods passed down through generations, growing large trees, grains, and coffee in layers that support both daily life and community identity. This farming approach reflects deep knowledge of the land and shapes how people use the landscape today.
Local guides provide the best access to different sections of the landscape throughout the year. The terrain is steep and requires sturdy walking shoes and time to explore the area on foot, as the hillsides demand careful navigation.
The area is known for growing Yirgacheffe coffee, a variety prized worldwide, alongside enset plants, a local perennial used for food and fiber. These two crops have been cultivated together in this specific landscape for generations, creating a distinct farming tradition found nowhere else in quite the same way.
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