The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is located in the north-eastern part of Africa commonly known as the Horn of Africa. Neighboring countries include Djibouti and Somalia in the east, Kenya in the south, Sudan in the west and south-west and Eritrea in the north and north-east. The country measures 1,112,000 square kilometers (472,000 sq. miles) making it roughly five times the size of the UK or as large as Franc and Spain combined.
Few countries in the world possess such a wealth and variety of ancient legends and fascinating attractions as Ethiopia. It is a country split by an act of nature-the cleavage known as the Great Rift Valley. At the northern end of the Ethiopian Rift lies Afar in what is known as the Danakil Depression, a barren, scorched landscape which millions of years ago was ‘home ‘to man kind’s ancestors. In 1974, the 3.2 million year old remains of the ancestral Australopithecus Afarensis were found in the hadar area of Ethiopia, and nicknamed ‘Lucy’ this is the only one of the many major scientific discoveries in the area.
The discovery chalked yet another first for the country which gave the world coffee, pioneered growing teff, and the ‘false banana’ enset. It was the first place in Africa to make Christianity a state religion. As religion has always been a major influence in the country.
Certainly no country in sub-Saharan Africa can trace its origins as far back. Ethiopia is mentioned 33times in the Bible and many times in the Qur’an. Perhaps this is the reason why so many visitors retrace the ‘historic route’ drawn by colorful stories and fantastic tales once know as Abyssinia.
Throughout the ages, the rocky ramparts surrounding its 2500-metre high (8,000ft) central plateau prevented countless invaders from ever penetrating far beyond the lowlands of the Red Sea coast. Thanks to their courage, Ethiopia’s highlanders remained unconquered for centuries, and most of their historic records and buildings were preserved for posterity.
Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and Persians all tried to occupy what has been called ‘the Roof of Africa’. More recently, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Turkish troops, Portuguese adventurers and priest were more successful in gaining tenuous footholds for a time, followed later by British, French and Italian military expeditions.
 Ethiopia History Ethiopia’s earliest history is rooted farther north. The ancient town of Axum , which was one of the very first capitals of Semitic culture in northern Ethiopia, was founded about 1000BC and is the first stage in Ethiopia’s famous ‘historic Route’ . The earliest capital was actually at nearby Yeha. The Axumite Kingdom was known as ‘the most powerful state between the roman empire and Persia’. >More Ethiopian History |  Ethiopian Culture Ethiopia is anchored in an ancient, cultured society. The rich culture of its affluent society is prominent. Its societies comprise a mosaic of over 80 ethnic groups each with its own languages, cultural heritage, crafts and costumes make the country a museum to be frequented. >More on Ethiopian Culture |
 Nature of Ethiopia Ethiopia is well endowed with a wide variety of experiences in natural spheres to explore. The country boasts some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery, and features an extraordinary variety of wildlife species, as well as a spectacular variety of plants. >More on Nature of Ethiopia |  Archeology in Ethiopia Ethiopia offers a greater richness in archaeological finds and historical buildings than any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa (including Sudan). Ethiopia is well known for its significant fossil bearing beds which have bore some of the oldest and most complete fossil hominids. One well known is Lucy. >More Archeology in Ethiopia |
