Ethiopia in Brief
WIKIPEDIA
VIDEO 1
VIDEO 2
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Ethiopia was never colonized, maintaining its independence throughout the Scramble for Africa, except for a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy.
4. The official language is Amharic, but the country has over 80 ethnic groups and as many languages.
5. Ethiopia is the site of the first Hijra in Islamic history and the oldest Muslim settlement in Africa at Negash.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. The Rastafarian movement regards Ethiopia as its spiritual homeland, inspired by the coronation of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1930.
9. The Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Issat — 'Smoking Water' — is one of Ethiopia’s best-known tourist attractions.
10. Injera, a sourdough flatbread made from the grain teff, is a staple of Ethiopian cuisine and eaten daily in most households.
11. 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).
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Ethiopia is known as the "Water Tower" of Eastern Africa because of the many rivers that originate in its highlands, including the Blue Nile.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Ethiopia has a large population of over 110 million people, making it the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria.
20. The Ethiopian Highlands are known as the "Roof of Africa" and are the largest continuous mountain ranges in Africa.
21. Addis Ababa, the capital, is an important city in African politics, hosting the headquarters of the African Union and various international organizations.