Ethiopia in Brief |
WIKIPEDIA |
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Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world with human habitation dating back to prehistoric times. It is widely considered the region where modern humans first evolved. |
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The country follows a unique calendar that is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, due to a different calculation of the date of the Annunciation of Jesus. |
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Ethiopia was never colonized, maintaining its independence throughout the Scramble for Africa, except for a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy. |
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The official language is Amharic, but the country has over 80 ethnic groups and as many languages. |
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Ethiopia is the site of the first Hijra in Islamic history and the oldest Muslim settlement in Africa at Negash. |
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Coffee is believed to have been discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder named Kaldi. Today, Ethiopian coffee is renowned worldwide for its unique flavors. |
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Lalibela, a town in northern Ethiopia, is famous for its monolithic rock-cut churches, which are considered one of the greatest architectural achievements in the history of the world. |
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The Rastafarian movement regards Ethiopia as its spiritual homeland, inspired by the coronation of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930. |
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The Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Issat — 'Smoking Water' — is one of Ethiopia’s best-known tourist attractions. |
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Injera, a sourdough flatbread made from the grain teff, is a staple of Ethiopian cuisine and eaten daily in most households. |
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The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth, with temperatures that can reach 125°F (51°C). |
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The Festival of Timkat (Epiphany) is one of the largest and most colorful Christian celebrations in Ethiopia, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. |
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Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains National Park is known for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, including the gelada baboon, Ethiopian wolf, and Walia ibex, which are endemic to Ethiopia. |
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The Obelisk of Axum, originally from the ancient Kingdom of Aksum, was returned to Ethiopia from Italy in 2005 after being looted during the Italian occupation. |
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Ethiopia is known as the "Water Tower" of Eastern Africa because of the many rivers that originate in its highlands, including the Blue Nile. |
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Ethiopian distance runners are famous around the world for their athletic prowess, particularly in long-distance events, with numerous Olympic gold medals to their credit. |
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The Church of St. George in Lalibela is a UNESCO World Heritage site, carved from a single piece of rock in the shape of a cross. |
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The Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo people, was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. |
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Ethiopia has a large population of over 110 million people, making it the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria. |
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The Ethiopian Highlands are known as the "Roof of Africa" and are the largest continuous mountain ranges in Africa. |
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Addis Ababa, the capital, is an important city in African politics, hosting the headquarters of the African Union and various international organizations. |