Short facts about the geography of Ethiopia

Location:

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  1,127,127 sq km land:  1,119,683 sq km water:  7,444 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total:  5,311 km border countries:  Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain:

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Denakil Depression -125 m highest point:  Ras Dejen 4,620 m

Natural resources:

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  12% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  40% forests and woodland:  25% other:  22% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note:

landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993

Source: World Factbook