Chapter Three: The Topography of Ethiopia and The Horn 2021

CHAPTER THREE  Nomadic and semi-nomadic economic life

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE 3.2. The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
HORN
 Three major physiographic units can be identified
3.1. Introduction in Ethiopia. These are:
 The Western highlands and lowlands
The topography of Ethiopia is largely determined  The South-eastern (Eastern) highlands
by the geologic activities of the Cenozoic Era. and lowlands
General Characteristics of the Ethiopian  The Rift Valley
Physiography 3.2.1. The Western Highlands and Lowlands
characterized by great diversity Includes all the area west of the Rift Valley.
Altitude ranges from 125 meters bsl (Kobar Sink) It extends from north to south encompassing
to the highest mountain in Ethiopia, Mount Ras nearly the whole western half of Ethiopia.
Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l) 44% of the area of the country.
Ethiopia described as the Roof of East Africa In the east the western escarpment of the Rift
because of its height and large area. Valley bound it whereas
diversity in topography affect the distribution of Westward - the land descends in altitude until
soil, climate, vegetation, wild life, socio-cultural it merges into the western foothills and
and economic phenomena lowlands, along the Sudan and South Sudan
56% of the Ethiopian landmass is above 1,000 border.
meters and 44% is lowlands. This region is further subdivided into four
groups of highlands (76.3%) and lowlands
Characteristics of Ethiopian highlands
1. The Western Highlands
 Moderate and high amount of rainfall (>600
mm per year). A. The Tigray Plateau
 Lower mean annual temperature (<20 0C).  It extends from the Tekeze gorge in the
 The climate is favorable for biotic life. south to central Eritrean highlands.
 Rain-fed agriculture is possible.  Separated from the Eritrean plateau by
 Free from tropical diseases. the Mereb River.
 Attractive for human habitation and densely  13% of the area of the region.
settled.  The right bank tributaries of Tekeze drain
this plateau. .
From highlands:
 Mount Tsibet (3988 m.a.s.l),
 35% - lower highland (1,000 - 2,000 m.a.s.l  Mount Ambalage (3291 m.a.s.l),
 22% - higher highland (>2,000 m.a.s.l)  Mount Assimba (3248 m.a.s.l).
 44% - accounts above (1,500 meters).
B. North Central Massifs
Characteristics of Ethiopian lowlands  The largest in the western highlands.
 Follows the Abay and Tekeze gorges
 Fewer amounts of rainfall and higher
 Central part - Lake Tana basin
temperature.
surrounded by plains of Fogera and
 High prevalence of tropical diseases.
 Lower population densities.
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Chapter Three: The Topography of Ethiopia and The Horn 2021

Dembia in the north and an upland plain It drained outward in all directions by the
in its south. tributaries of Abay, Omo, and Awash.
 58% of the region is >2,000 meters next Forms a water divide for these three river
to Shewan Plateau. basins.
 The region consists of the Gonder, Wello The tributaries of Abay-Guder, Muger, Jema
and Gojjam Massifs. have cut deep gorges and steep sided river
 Out of the 26 mountain peaks with valleys
altitude of more than 4,000m, 19  The highest mountains are
mountain peaks are found here  Mount Abuye-Meda (4,000 m.a.s.l) in
Northern Shewa,
The most popular mountains are:  Mount Guraghe in the south is 3,721 meters
high
 Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l),
 Weynobar/Ancua (4462 m.a.s.l), D. The Southwestern Highlands
 KidisYared (4453 m.a.s.l), and
 Mount Bwahit (4437 m.a.s.l) in the Simen  Consists of the highlands of Wellega,
Mountain System. Illuababora, Jimma, Kaffa, Gamo and Gofa.
 Mount Guna (4,231m.a.s.l) in the Debre  Separated from the adjacent highlands by the
Tabour Abay and Omo river valleys.
 Abune Yoseph (4,260 m.a.s.l) in the Lasta  It extends from the Abay gorge in the north
 Mount Birhan (4,154 m.a.s.l) in the Choke to the Kenya border and Chew Bahir in the
Mountain System in Gojjam are also part of south.
Simen Mountain System.  It account for 22.7% of the area of the region.
 These highlands connected by Yeju-Wadla  The 2 nd largest in the Western highlands.
Delanta land bridge (ridge).  70% of its area is lies within 1,000-2,000
 It served as a route of penetration by the Turks, meters altitude.
Portuguese, and Italians  It is the wettest in Ethiopia.
 The Woreta-Debre Tabor-Woldya road  Drained by Dabus, Deddessa (tributaries of
constructed to link the northwestern region with Abay), Baro, Akobo and the Ghibe/Omo
Asseb through Woldya and Dessie took  Numerous and diverse ethnic linguistic
advantage of this land bridge groups in Ethiopia.
 Guge Mountain is the highest peak with
C. The Shewa Plateau/central highlands 4,200 m.a.s.l.
Bounded by the Rift Valley in the east and 2. The Western Lowlands
southeast, Abay gorge in its northern and
western limit, and the Omo gorge in the  Western Tigray in the north to southern
south and west. Gamo-Gofa in the South.
Occupies a central geographical position in  Continuity in certain places interrupted by
Ethiopia. With only ridges or part of the highlands.
11% of the area of region  11% of the area of the region.
It is the smallest of the Western highlands  Elevation b/n 500 and 1000 m.a.s.l
¾ th of its area is > 2,000 m.a.s.l.,
The largest proportion of elevated ground of  This sub-region is further subdivided into four
the region by the protruding ridges.
 Tekeze lowland,
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Chapter Three: The Topography of Ethiopia and The Horn 2021

 Abay-Dinder lowland,  Mount Kaka (4,180 m.a.s.l),

 Baro lowland, and  Mount Bada (4,139 m.a.s.l)
 Ghibe lowland from north to south.  Mount Chilalo (4,036 m.a.s.l).
Except the Baro lowland, the region is generally  The Bale highlands are separated from the Arsi
characterized by arid or semi-arid conditions. highlands by the head and main stream of
Pastoral or semi-pastoral economic activities Wabishebelle. The highest mountains are
dominate the area.  Tulu-Demtu (4,377 m.a.s.l)
Aridity increases northwards  Mount Batu (4,307 m.a.s.l).
Irrigation agriculture is highly feasible  Arsi-Bale Highlands are important grains
The Baro lowland has an extensive flat area producing areas with still high potential.
suitable for mechanized agriculture.
The Ghibe/Omo lowland, which includes the  The Sidama Highlands are separated from the
lower Ghibe/Omo Valley and the northern Bale Highlands by the Ghenale river valley.
section of the Turkana basin, is classified in the They occupy the southwestern corner of this
Western lowlands from its geographical region. The prominent feature here is the
location. But structurally it also belongs to the Jemjem plateau, an important coffee growing
Rift Valley. area.
 Important towns - agriculture, history, border
towns and frontier ports.  Rivers Wabishebelle and Ghenale along with
 Humera, Metema, Omedla, Kurmuk, their tributaries have dissected this
Gambella etc. physiographic region. Specially, Weyb River,
tributary of Ghenale, has cut an underground
3.2.2. The South-eastern Highlands and Lowlands passage (Sof Omar cave)
 The second largest in terms of area - 37% of the
 The cave is found near Bale Mountains. It is one
area of Ethiopia.
of the World's most spectacular and extensive
 46% of the physiographic division is highlands
underground caverns creating a magnificent
 In the west and north - the eastern escarpment of
view accessible only by an underground stream.
the Rift Valley.
 The land gradually descends southeastward into B. The Hararghe Plateau
the southeastern lowlands and then to the plains
of Somalia. North-easterly extension of the south-eastern highlands.
It extends from the Chercher highlands in the south-
Subdivided into two units west to Jigjiga in the east.
38% of the South Eastern highlands and 17.4% of the
1. The Southeastern Highlands whole physiographic region.
Smallest proportion of upper highland (>2,000 meters).
A. The Arsi-Bale-Sidama Highlands Rising sharply from the Rift Valley floor, it
immediately but gently descends east and
Found to the east of the Lakes Region. southeastward.
Located in the south western section of the Left-bank tributaries of Wabishebelle drain it.

physiographic region. The highest mountain here is Mount Gara-

They make up 28.5% of the area of the region Muleta (3,381 m.a.s.l).
and 62% of the south - Eastern Highlands.
 The Arsi Highlands are made up of flat rolling
uplands and dissected mountains.

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Chapter Three: The Topography of Ethiopia and The Horn 2021

2. The Southeastern Lowlands  Elevation of 1,000-2,000 m.a.s.l

 The floor in many places is dotted by
 The most extensive lowlands in Ethiopia cinder cones and volcanic mountains.
 54% of the area of the physiographic region The big ones include Mount Fentale,
and around one-fifth of the country. Boseti-guda (near Adama), Aletu (north
 This region is divided into Wabishebelle of Lake Ziway) and Chebi (north of Lake
plain (60%) and the Ghenale Plain (40%). Hawasa).
 They include the plains of Ogaden, Elkere,  Because of altitude it is generally milder
and Borena. and watery.
 Support very small population; pastoral and
semi-pastoral communities. Economic importance
 The economic potential: animal husbandry,
irrigation, agriculture and perhaps Rain-fed agriculture is practiced.
exploitation of petroleum and natural gas. Recreational value of the lakes,
The agricultural importance of some
3.2.3. The Rift Valley streams and lakes, and
The geothermal energy potential.
separated the Ethiopian Highlands and
Lowlands in to two 3. The Chew Bahir Rift
Extends from the Afar triangle in the north to  This is the smallest and the southern-
Chew Bahir for about 1,700 km2. most part of the Rift Valley. Gneissic
18% of the area of Ethiopia highlands of Konso and the surrounding
Altitude from 125 m.b.s.l. at Dallol highlands separate it from the Main
Depression, to as high as 2,000 m.a.s.l. in the Ethiopian Rift to the north.
Lakes region.  The characteristic feature of this region
subdivided into three physiographic sub- is the broad and shallow depression,
regions which is a marshy area covered by tall
grass, into which the Segen and Woito
1. The Afar Triangle streams empty.
 The largest and widest part (54%) 3.3. The Impacts of Relief on Biophysical and
 Low altitude (300-700 meters). Socioeconomic Conditions
 The depression: the most hostile
environments on Earth Agricultural practices
 Danakil depression (Kobar Sink) and Settlement pattern
lakes (Abe, Asale and Afrera are well Transportation and communication
known in Afar). Dallol can exceed 50°C Hydroelectric power potential
 Economic importance includes salt Socio-cultural feeling
extraction, irrigation along the Awash Impacts on climate
River and geothermal energy Impacts on soil
Impacts on natural vegetation
2. The Main Ethiopian Rift/Central Rift
 Narrow belt extends from Awash River
in the north to Lake Chamo in the south.
 It is the narrowest and the highest.
 Width: 50-80 kms

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