1. EAST AFRICA: ETHIOPIA
Unit 4

3. Climate / Terrain Ethiopia is a landlocked country
High central plateau
The Great Rift Valley splits the plateau diagonally
The western highlands get summer rainfall; the low lowlands and eastern highlands are hot and dry
Climate: Tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

5. Government / Economy Government: Federal Republic
Head of State: President
Main exports: Industry & Agriculture
Natural resources: gold, platinum, copper, natural gas
Currency: Ethiopian Birr
1 USD = EB

6. Demography / Culture Population: 77,431,000 Capital: Addis Ababa
Language: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga
Religion: Muslim, Ethiopian Orthodox
Life expectancy: 42
Ethiopians have one of the lowest life expectancies in the world.
Literacy rate: 43%

7. Brief History In 1889, Menelik II is crowned emperor
Menelik II established independence by defeating an Italian invasion in 1896
In 1941, British troops forced the Italians to evacuate
They declared their independence in 1995

8. Tourism
Blue Nile Falls
Simien Mountains

9. Interesting Facts
Ethiopia is the only country in the world to have 13 months in a calendar year
Celebrate New Year in September
Ethiopian children must learn their tribal language and the country’s official language (Amharic)
Thirteen percent of Ethiopian children are missing one or both parents.
Nearly a quarter of their parents
have been lost in the AIDS epidemic

10. Food