CHAPTER THREE

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

Objectives: at the end of this chapter, the learners will be able to:
 Describe the physiographic characteristics of Ethiopia and the Horn.
 Identify the physiographic divisions of Ethiopia.
 Elucidate the physiographic characteristics of the Rift Valley.
 Explain the impacts of relief on biophysical and socioeconomic conditions
3.1. General Characteristics of the Ethiopian Physiography
The Ethiopian physiography is characterized by great diversity of landforms constituting high
and low lands, plateaus, high and rugged mountains, deep river gorges and vast plain surface.
In Ethiopia, altitude ranges from 125 meters below sea level (Kobar Sink/Dalol) to the
highest mountain called Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l).
More than 50% of the Ethiopian landmass (56%) is above 1,000 meters of elevation; and
44% of its landmass is above 1,500 meters. These high lands and mountain ranges that are
sources of many rivers and streams that made the country to be described as the “Roof/Water
Tower of East Africa”.
 Characteristics of Ethiopian highlands & low lands by taking 1,000m contour line as demarcation
Characteristics of high lands Characteristics of high lands
High lands make up 56% of the area of the country Low lands make up 44% of the area of the country
Moderate and high amount of rainfall (>600 mm per year). Fewer amounts of rainfall and higher temperature.
Lower mean annual temperature (<200C). High prevalence of tropical diseases
The climate is favorable for biotic life. Lower population densities.
Rain-fed agriculture is possible. Nomadic and semi-nomadic economic life.
Free from tropical diseases. Vast plain lands favorable suitable for irrigation
Attractive for human habitation and densely settled.
3.2. The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
The three major physiographic units can be identified in Ethiopia. These are:
1. The Western highlands and lowlands
2. The South-eastern (Eastern) highlands and lowlands
3. The Rift Valley

Fig. 3.1. Physiographic divisions of Ethiopia Source: CSA shapefile, 2012

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3.2.1. The Western Highlands and Lowlands
1. Western highlands
 Includes all the area west of the Rift Valley of Ethiopia
 It extends from north (Tigray plateaus) to south (Gamogofa)
 It makes up about 44% of the area of the country
 Western highlands divided in to 4 sub divisions
A. Tigray Plateau:
Extends from Tekeze gorge in the south to central Eritrean highlands
Separated from the Eritrean plateau by the Mereb River
It includes: Tsibet mt. (3988m a.s.l), Ambalage (3291m a.s.l), & Assimba (3248 m.a.s.l).
Debre-Damo monastery that can only be climbed by a rope pulley is found in this area.
B. North Central Massifs:
 It is the largest in the western highlands
 Accommodates Lake Tana surrounded by plains of Fogera and Dembia
 Mt. Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l), Weynobar/Ancua (4462 m.a.s.l), KidisYared (4453
m.a.s.l), and Bwahit (4437 m.a.s.l) are in the Simen Mountain System.
 Mt. Guna (4,231m.a.s.l), Abune Yoseph (4,260 m.a.s.l) and Birhan (4,154 m.a.s.l) are
parts of North central massifs.
C. The Shewa Plateau/central highlands
 Bounded by the Rift Valley in the east and southeast, by the Abay gorge in the northern
and western limit, and the Omo gorge in the south and west.
 3/4th of its area is altitude of more than 2,000 meter a.s.l.
 Drained, outward in all directions by the tributaries of Abay, Omo, and Awash.
 Mt. Abuye-Meda (4,000 m.a.s.l) & Guraghe (3,721 meter a.s.l) are found in it.
2. Western low lands
 ranges between 500 & 1000m a.s.l and extends from Tigray (north) to Gamogofa (south)
 divided in to 4 protruding ridges
A. Tekeze- Angereb lowland
B. Abay-Dinder lowland
C. Baro-Akobo lowland
D. Omo-Gibe lowland
 In this areas nomadic & semi nomadic way of life and irrigation agriculture are practiced.
 Humera, Metema, Omedla, Kurmuk, Gambella etc. are some border towns and
frontier ports of western lowlands.
3. Southeastern highlands & lowlands
is the second largest in terms of area, which accounts 37% of the area of Ethiopia
The highlands make up 46% of the physiographic division while 54% is lowland.
The Southeastern highlands divided in to: Arsi highlands, Bale highlands, sidama
highlands and Hararghe plateau
A. Arsi high lands
 Mount Kaka (4,180 m.a.s.l),
 Mount Bada (4,139 m.a.s.l) and
 Mount Chilalo (4,036 m.a.s.l).
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 B. Bale highlands:
 Mount Tulu-Demtu (4,377 m.a.s.l) and
 Mount Batu (4,307 m.a.s.l
C. Sidama Highlands:
 The prominent feature here is Jemjem plateau, important coffee growing area.
D. Hararghe Plateau:
 It extends from the Chercher highlands in the south-west to Jigjiga in the east.
 Makes up 38% of the South Eastern highlands
 It has the smallest proportion of upper highland (>2,000 meters). It is a low lying
and elongated region.
 The highest mountain here is Mount Gara-Muleta (3,381 m.a.s.l).
4. Southeastern Lowlands
Southeastern lowlands are located in the southeastern part of the country
They are the most extensive lowlands in Ethiopia, which make up 54% of the area
This region is divided into Wabishebelle plain (60%) and the Ghenale Plain (40%).
They include the plains of Ogaden, Elkere, and Borena
They are sparsely inhabited by pastoral and semi-pastoral communities.
The economic potential for this region includes animal husbandry, irrigation, agriculture
and perhaps exploitation of petroleum and natural gas.
5. The Rift Valley
 The Rift Valley is a tectonically formed structural depression.
 Extend from Syria to Mozambique (7200km). Its length in Africa 5600km
 It extends from the Afar triangle in the north to Chew Bahir (south) for about 1,700 km.
 It covers 19% of the area of Ethiopia.
 It opens out in the Afar Triangle, where it is the widest, and narrows down to the south.
 Altitude in the floor ranges from 125 meters below sea level at Dallol Depression, to as high
as 2,000 meters above sea level in the Lakes region.
 The Rift Valley is further subdivided into three physiographic sub-regions.
i. Afar Triangle,
ii. Main Ethiopian Rift, and
iii. Chew Bahir Rift.
i. The Afar Triangle
 The largest and widest part of the Rift Valley, which makes up 54% of the Rift Valley area.
 area is characterized by faulted depressions (grabens), volcanic hills, active volcanoes,
volcanic ridges, lava fields and low lava platforms
 Denakil Depression (Kobar Sink) is a prominent feature elevated 125 meters b.s.l
 The Afar Triangle is generally hot and dry
ii. The Main Ethiopian Rift/Central Rift
 It refers to the narrow belt of the Rift Valley
 Extends from Awash River in the north to Lake Chamo in the south.
 Narrowest and has an average width of 50-80 kilometers and elevated 1,000-2,000 m a.s.l.
 Mount Fentale, Boseti-guda (near Adama), Aletu (north of Lake Ziway) and Chebi (north
of Lake Hawasa) are found in this section.

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 iii. The Chew Bahir Rift
 This is the smallest and the southern-most part of the Rift Valley.
 Gneissic highlands of Konso and the surrounding highlands separate it from the Main
Ethiopian Rift to the north.
 Chew Bahir Rift is broad and shallow depression, which is a marshy area covered by
tall grass, into which the Segen and Woito streams empty.
3.3. The Impacts of Relief on biophysical and socioeconomic Conditions
1. Agricultural practices:
 Choice of farming techniques and farm implements are highly influenced by relief
 Relief influences crop production as some corps are well adapted to higher altitudes
(barley, wheat) and others to low altitude (sorghum, maize).
 The practice of animal husbandry is also influenced by relief
2. Settlement pattern
 Highlands of Ethiopia that experience a temperate type of climatic condition that are
mainly free from most of the tropical diseases are densely settled.
 Rugged and difficult terrain hinders the development of settlement and its expansion.
 The highlands of Ethiopia are characterized by sedentary life and permanent settlements
while lowlands that are inhabited by pastoralists have temporary settlements.
3. Transportation and communication
 The highly dissected nature of the landscape is a barrier to the development of internal surface
transportation that resulted in the long-term isolation of many communities
 The difficult terrain makes infrastructure development and maintenance costly.
 TV and radio communications are also highly influenced by relief.
 The rugged topography rendered rivers less navigable due to the waterfalls, deep gorges and steep cliffs.
4. Hydroelectric power potential
 The great difference in altitude coupled with high rainfall created suitable conditions for
a very high potential for the production of hydroelectric power in Ethiopia.
5. Socio-cultural feeling
 The rugged terrain as a result of excessive surface dissection resulted in the long-term
isolation of communities that led to the occurrence of cultural diversity.
 People who live in the highlands have been identifying themselves as degegnas
(mountaineers) and those who live in the lowlands as kollegnas (lowlanders).
6. Impacts on climate
 The climate of Ethiopia is a result of the tropical position of the country and the great
altitudinal variation of the general topography.
 Highlands with higher amount of rainfall and lower rate of evapo-transpiration tend to
be moisture surplus compared to the moisture deficit lowlands.
7. Impacts on soil
 Steep mountain slopes provide low angle of rest, unstable surface materials and subject
to degradation processes and relatively form shallow and little developed soils.
8. Impacts on natural vegetation
 Relief through its effect on climate and hydrology affect the type of natural vegetation
grown in an area.
 Reading Assignment
1. State the general Characteristics of Ethiopian physiography, identify lowest and highest
points of Ethiopia, write their elevation & in which physiographic division they found.
2. List and discuss the three major physiographic divisions of Ethiopia
3. Explain the characteristics of Ethiopian highlands and lowlands
4. What are the impacts of relief on the biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of Ethiopia?