Ethiopia

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Entry posted by korver · July 8, 2020

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true earth

Ethiopia is a rugged, landlocked country of 117 million. With archaeological finds dating back more than 3 million years, it’s a place of ancient culture as well as stunning natural beauty. With a population of 112 million, it's the continent's second most populous country - and the world's most populated landlocked country. Today, we'll be traveling across the country and checking out a number of Ethiopia's most notable landmarks and places of interest.

Our trip through Ethiopia begins in the country's massive capital city of Addis Ababa. Located in the Ethiopian highlands at 7,729 ft above sea level (it's the continent's highest capital city), this city of over 3 million sprawls for miles across a high plateau. Addis Ababa has been Ethiopia's primary commercial and cultural hub for over a century - and in recent years the city has continued to grow outwards and upwards, with a number of ambitious new projects planned for the city's skyline.

We head north from Addis Ababa into the heart of the country's northern highlands, where a number of important religious and historical landmarks are located. The Church of Saint George is one of eleven rock-hewn monolithic churches in Lalibela, a city in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Originally named Roha, the historical and religious site was named Lalibela after the King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty, who commissioned its construction. Today, it's an important pilgrimage site for the priests of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

On our way out of town, we catch a few more of the city's unique sights - such as the large donkey market that forms on the edge of town every Saturday morning. All sorts of goods are transported here on donkeys and goats - and there's plenty of animals for sale here as well. It's a truly unique and chaotic experience.

We travel further north, towards Ethiopia's northern border with Eritrea - and we've arrived in our next location, Axum. This city in northern Ethiopia is known for its tall, carved obelisks, relics of the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. Most are in the northern Stelae Park, as seen below - and the area is a pilgrimage site believed to have housed the biblical Ark of the Covenant. The neighboring Chapel of the Tablet is said to contain the Ark today.

Ethiopia is a country that's also known for it's incredible natural landmarks in addition to it's historical sites - and our next three scenes will showcase some of the country's most stunning landscapes. Some 100 miles east of Axum is the unique Danakil Depression - a geological depression that has resulted from the divergence of three tectonic plates. This vast plain is one of the world's hottest places and is the continent's lowest point - and its mesmerizing algae filled pools and unique rock formations look out of this world.

We'll be catching a plane for our next few sights, beginning with the violent Erta Ale. This continuously active basaltic shield volcano is located in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, a badland area that's had volcanic activity for centuries. Erta Ale is not just the most active volcano in Ethiopia, but one of the world's most active volcanoes as well.

Our trip concludes with a plane ride over the majestic Semien Mountains. This World Heritage Site is located in Northern Ethiopia, consisting of dramatic plateaus separated by valleys and rising to pinnacles. It's one of the continent's most amazing sights - any trip here is truly unforgettable.