Ethiopia+Geography

**Total Size of Ethiopia:** 1,127,127 square km
 * Ethiopia Geography **
 * History || Geography || Culture  || Economics  || Politics  || Class Activities || Resources ||

**Size Comparison:** Slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Approximatly 93,815,992 million people live in Ethiopia. Life expectancy is around 49 years. Birth rate is on average 5.3 per woman.
 * Population: **

**Geographical Coordinates:** 8 00 N, 38 00 E

**World Region:** Africa

**General Terrain:** High plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley


 * Topography: ** Ethiopia contains a variety of distinct topographical zones. It is a country of geographical contrasts, varying from as much as 116 m (381 ft) below sea level in the Danakil depression to more than 4,600 m (15,000 ft) above in the mountainous regions

All of the following information came from: [] **Climate:** Ethiopia's climate is extremely varied due to the country's topography. Despite being close to the equator, Ethiopia doesn't follow the typical tropical climate patterns.One the driest and hottest places on earth is the Danakil Depression in Northern Ethiopia. Central Ethiopia is a vast plateau known as the Ethiopian Highlands. Cool temperatures prevail here and the higher peaks have snow in winter. Southern Ethiopia and the surrounding lowlands enjoy a tropical climate with lots of heat and humidity. There is a rainy season from mid-June to mid-September and some rain also falls from February - March.

All of the following information came from: [] [] []
 * Natural Resources: || small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower ||
 * Land use: || //arable land:// 10.71% //permanent crops:// 0.75% //other:// 88.54% (2001) ||
 * Irrigated land: || 1,900 sq km (1998 est.) ||
 * Natural hazards: || geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts ||
 * Environment - current issues: || deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management ||