This country, situated in east part of African continent, can offer to visitors diverse and numerous beauties of its nature - from semi-deserts via thorny bush, grassy and acacia savannas, rain and mountain virgin forests, extensive plain meadows, up to Africa-Alpine cops, placed in highest positions (sites). Steep slopes, deep river-canyons, waterfalls and lakes: all these together create picturesque sceneries of its surface, all this is connected with its mountains, which form a base of unique beauty of Ethiopia. Local mountains are divided by so called Ethiopian Ditch in two parts: Ethiopian Highland in west and Somalian Table in east. The highest peaks of Ethiopian Highland are to be found in Simien Mountain Range, placed in north-east direction of Tana Lake. Except Ras Dashen Peak (4620 m), there are to be found several other mountain peaks in the neighbourhood, a little lower (Buahit - 4430 m). In east direction from Tana Lake, Guna Massif (4245 m) is arising, and further to the east, near to break edge, a peak of Abuna Josef (4190 m) is arising. The other peaks, exceeding four thousands meter high are to be found in south direction, such as Birhan (4154 m) or Talo (4100 m), placed in Choke Mountain Range.

On the opposite, east edge of Ethiopian Ditch, four thousand metres height is overcone in Bada Kaka Ridge (4190 m) and Tschilalo (4139 m). From this area, there is drawing, towards north-east long, Tschercher Mountain Range. Further, the peaks of Bale Mountains, placed not far from Wabi Shebele River, are higher.It is, first of all, Dulu Demtu (4377 m) and Batu Mountain (4307 m). However, the data regarding altitude above sea level are not too reliable in Ethiopia, so that you find different data in various types of maps, and the data indications differ a lot. There is no exception that even the names of separate mountains are different. The mountains in north Ethiopia have often a face of table mountains with flat peaks and steep walls. So, deep valleys  frequently raise to the power the effect and dramatical views. Anyway, frequent erosions make serious problems here, as a consequence of intensive trees´ cutting down.

The climate in mountains depends a lot on the altitude. In positions up to 1800 metres, warm and dry zone is dominating, whereas in belt from 1800 m up to 2400 metres of the altitude, the temperatures are moderate and precipitations sufficient (more than 1000 mm in a year). Here, most of inhabitants is living. In positions exceeding 2400 m, the climate is more cold, and the sheep substitute the cattle. The precipitations are seasonal, main rain period dominates in July and August. As far as the Ethiopian lakes is concerned, the greatest and highest situated African lake is those of Tana Lake (it is placed in the altitude of 1786 metres above sea level), with the area of 3630 square kilometres. To the other lakes belong the lake of Tschamo (551 square kilometres) and Abaya (1160 square kilometres), where the crocodiles and hippotamuses are living, and the lake, situated on the top of sacrified Zuquala Volcano, in the altitude of 3020 metres above sea level.

Fauna and flora of Ethiopia is rich and is able to offer many interesting objects. However, intensive rooting up and explosive increase of inhabitants let to drastical decrease of wild animals´ level, as well as to reduction of their life space. Nevertheless, it is good luck that new National Parks and Reservations were established there, where the animals of East-African savannas are fully protected (anteloppes, zebras, lions, gazelles, leopards, etc.). The animals are concentrated into parks, such as: Omo, Mago, Avash, Necisar, or mountain national parks Simien (registered in UNESCO Heritage Survey) or Bale.

The inhabitants in Ethiopia speak with approx. eighty different languages, especially owing to great number of different tribes, living in mountain areas. In north mountains, Semit Amhars and Tigreits are living. On some other place, the Oroms are dominating. The people living in mountains, are mostly friendly, especially in places, seldom visited by foreigners.

Text: J. Štantejský

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: Panoramio.com (A.Korzeniowski, Roeline, Olivier Vuigner, Larry Workman, vitke, bram piot, ttias)