Ethiopian Highlands

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F The up to 4,533 m high highlands of Abyssinia (also the highlands of Ethiopia and Ethiopian Highlands) as covered high mountains of central and northern Ethiopia and extends with its northern foothills even in the northern Eritrea ( East Africa).

Location

In the north- western Ethiopia highlands of Abyssinia, it gradually changes into the Nubian desert. In the northeast, Eritrea follows, where the terrain falls to the Red sea. In the southeast the plateau abuts the northern part of the Great African grave breach of the branches of the East African grave breach here. This begins with the Abyssinian ditch that separates the Abyssinian highlands from Somali highlands, which is also called Southern Ethiopian highlands. In the south, the mountain passes into the grave breach mentioned above, in which is located next to several other lakes in the Lake Turkana. Southwest and west of the Nile Valley and connects the swamps of Sudds.

In north-south direction the highlands is about 1,000 km long and in West - East direction up to 500 km wide, which is about the size of the Alps.

Landscape

The highlands of Abyssinia is dissected into several small individual mountains which are called as Amara, Gurage and Simen.

From the in the northwest to the highlands subsequent Nubian Desert in Sudan, the land rises only gradually over the Highlands and the border of Ethiopia. Due to the northern part of the incipient in this border area mountains, the Sahel draws: the latter comes in this area than about 100 km wide strip from the west, then bends to the north to the northern part of the highlands of up to 500 km wide along the coast of the Red Sea and thus to lead mainly by the neighboring country of Eritrea to the southeast. To the north are the one hand, the dry savannah, on the other hand there is a swampy and dense jungle, in the example Elephants, beasts and snakes, but hardly people.

At its eastern edge of the highlands of Abyssinia falls from steep to, on the banks of Karumsee fall in the west of the border with Eritrea, lying Koba Valley, a depression even up to 116 m below sea level; in it there is a wetland that is fed by the streams and rivers that come from the very high rainfall center of the highlands. The eastern area is dominated by dry and wet savannas that in the East goes further into the wide strip of the already mentioned Sahel.

In the southeast, where stretches of the above-mentioned grave breach in northeast-southwest direction through Ethiopia, the highlands of Abyssinia goes over the savannah into the thorn savanna of the trench; in it there are many lakes.

The center of the mountain is mostly of grass land on the treeless and rocky mesas, which often have low vertical rock walls, but partly also determined by the tropical rainforest, and from bustling with hippos of Lake Tana, the Blue Nile from the entfließt. The peak areas of many of these plateaus just mentioned are irrigated, so that there could develop a fairly lush vegetation and even agriculture; also cattle breeding there. In the wars of previous centuries, these rocky plateau, called Amba, were often impregnable fortresses.

South-west and west of the site falls on the dry savannah gradually to the valleys of the Blue and White Nile back from.

Climate

During the summit regions often have a humid tropical climate, the valleys become dry. The rainy season, which can be mostly rain down their deposits only in the peak region (this is also the reason for the Ethiopian droughts), lasts from June to September.

Geology

Volcanic rocks dominate the highlands of Abyssinia. In particular, we find a spread up to two kilometers mighty lava bed, which goes back to the activity of a large igneous province million before 30-25 years.

Mountains

The very rugged high mountains is about 2,000 and 4,533 meters high. The highest peaks are several months of the year covered with snow, a reason that the Blue Nile springs from Lake Tana and its tributaries, as rich gets water.

Given here is list of the highest mountains in the highlands of Abyssinia represents only a selection of some high mountains dar.

  • Ras Daschan Terara ( 4,533 m) - Sämen Mountains
  • Buahit ( 4,510 m)
  • Talo ( 4,413 m)
  • Kollo ( 4,300 m)
  • Guma Terara 4,231 m
  • Guge ( 4,203 m)
  • Birhan Terara ( 4,154 m)
  • Amba Alage ( 3,438 m)
  • Tulu Welel ( 3,301 m)
  • Dendi ( 3,292 m)
  • Beleye ( 3,131 m)

Waters

Rivers:

  • Atbara
  • Awash
  • Blue Nile
  • Omo

Lakes:

  • In the highlands of Abyssinia: Lake Tana
  • Abajasee
  • Abijatta
  • Kokasee
  • Shala
  • Zway
  • Lake Turkana

Places

  • Addis Ababa, 2,370 m
  • Asmara
  • Gonder
  • Jimma
  • Mek'ele

States

  • Ethiopia
  • Eritrea
High Alps Highland (landform) Lake Karum Atbarah River Awash River Omo River Lake Abijatta Lake Shala Lake Zway Gondar
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