CHAPTER THREE

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

 Introduction
• The topography of Ethiopia is largely
determined by the geologic activities of the
Cenozoic Era.
• The uplifting of the Arabo-Ethiopian swell and
the subsequent outpouring, spreading and
thick accumulation of Trapean lava have given
rise to an outward sloping highland plateau
and mountains.
General Characteristics of the Ethiopian Physiography

• The Ethiopian landform is characterized by

great diversity.
– flat-topped plateaus,
– high and rugged mountains,
– deep river gorges and
– vast plains.
 Con…

• Altitude ranges from 125 meters below sea

level (Kobar Sink) to the highest mountain in
Ethiopia, Mount Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l),
which is the 4th highest mountain in Africa.
• Ethiopia has the largest proportion of
elevated landmass in the African continent.
• It is sometimes described as the Roof of East
Africa because of its height and large area.
 Con…

• More than 50% of the Ethiopian landmass is

above 1,000 meters of elevation; and above
1,500 meters makes 44% of the country.
• Most of the Ethiopian Highlands are part of
central and northern Ethiopia, and its
northernmost portion extends into Eritrea.
 Con…

• The highland core, on the other hand, is

encircled by semi-arid and lowlands.
• Most of the country consists of high plateau
and mountain ranges that are sources of
many rivers and streams that made the
country to be described as the “Water Tower
of East Africa”.
 Con…

• The diversity in topography is accompanied by

differences in other natural features such as
soil, climate, vegetation and wild life.
• Likewise, the socio-cultural and economic
phenomena are also affected by the
topography.
 Con…

• Characteristics of Ethiopian highlands:

– Moderate and high amount of rainfall (>600 mm
per year).
– Lower mean annual temperature (<200C).

– The climate is favourable for biotic life.

– Rain-fed agriculture is possible.

– Free from tropical diseases.

– Attractive for human habitation and densely settled.

 Con…

• The highlands have been significant throughout

Ethiopian history in the economic, cultural and
political life of the people.
• These highlands make up nearly 56% of the area of
the Ethiopia.
– lower highland (1,000 - 2,000 m.a.s.l) - 35% and

– higher highland (>2,000 m.a.s.l) - 21%.

 Con…

• The remaining 44% of the Ethiopian lowlands

are characterized by:
Fewer amounts of rainfall and higher temperature
High prevalence of tropical diseases
Lower population densities
Nomadic and semi-nomadic economic life
Vast plain lands favourable for irrigation
agriculture along the lower river basins
 The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
 Following the geologic processes of the
Cenozoic Era, three major physiographic
units can be identified in Ethiopia:
1. The Western highlands and lowlands
2. The South-eastern (Eastern) highlands and
lowlands
3. The Rift Valley
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 Con…

Physiographic Units

The Western The Southeastern (Eastern) Rift Valle

Highlands Lowlands Highlands Lowlands  Afar Triangle

 Tigray Plateau  Tekeze  The Hararge Plateau  Wabishebele  Main Ethiopian Rift (Lake

Region)

 North Central  Abay - Dindir  The Arsi-Bale-Sidama  Ghenale  The Chew Bahir Rift

Massif Highlands

 Shewan Plateau  Baro

 Southwestern  Ghibe

Highlands
 1. The Western highlands and lowlands
• all the area west of the Rift Valley
• It extends from north to south
• 44% of the area of the country
• In the east bound with the Rift Valley, whereas
westward the land gradually descends in
altitude, along the Sudan and South Sudan
border.
 Con…

• This region is further subdivided into:

– four groups of highlands (76.3%) and
– four groups of lowlands (23.7%)
 Con…

The Western Highlands

a. The Tigray Plateau
• It extends from the Tekeze gorge in the south to
central Eritrean highlands.
• The Tigray plateau is separated from the Eritrean
plateau by the Mereb River.
• It lies to the southeast of the upper course of the
Mereb/Gash River and to the northeast of Tekeze
River Gorge.
• It constitutes about 13% of the area of the region.
• It is an elongated highland with most of the land
being in between 1,000 and 2,000 m.a.s.l.
 Con…

• The right bank tributaries of Tekeze drain this

plateau.
• Long period of denudation has created
residual features of granite hills, rugged
topography, and Ambas.
 Con…

• There are high mountains in this plateau with

elevations of over 3000 meters, namely
– Mt. Tsibet (3988 m.a.s.l),
– Mt. Ambalage (3291 m.a.s.l)
– Mt. Assimba (3248 m.a.s.l)

• The famous monastery at Debre-Damo, a

tableland that can only be climbed by a rope
pulley is also located in this plateau region.
 b. North Central Massifs
• largest in the western highlands
• Much of its northern and southern limit
follows the Abay and Tekeze gorges.
• The Abay, Tekeze and their tributaries have cut
into this region:
– a maze (a network) of gorges,
– steep sided river valleys,
– dividing the land into many isolated plateau
blocks,
– precipitous (very steep) tablelands and other
rugged surface forms
 Con…

• But much of these plateau and tablelands are

still capped by the Trappean lava.
• In its central part, the physiographic unit also
accommodates the Lake Tana basin
surrounded by plains of Fogera and Dembia in
the north and an upland plain in its south.
 Con…

• 58% of the region is at an altitude of more than

2,000 meters
• The region consists of the Gonder, Wello and
Gojjam Massifs.
• Out of the 26 mountain peaks with altitude of
more than 4,000m.a.s.l in Ethiopia, 19
mountain peaks are found in this physiographic
region.
 Con…
• the most popular ones include
– Mt. Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l),
– Mt. Weynobar/Ancua (4462 m.a.s.l),
– Mt. KidisYared (4453 m.a.s.l), and
– Mt. Bwahit (4437 m.a.s.l) in the Simen Mountain
System
– Mt. Guna (4,231m.a.s.l) in the Debre Tabour Mountain
System,
– Abune Yoseph (4,260 m.a.s.l) in the Lasta highlands of
Wello and
– Mt. Birhan (4,154 m.a.s.l) in the Choke Mountain System
in Gojjam are also part of Simen Mountain System.
• These mountains have steep cliffs and rugged
terrain that provide scenic views to climbers
 Con…

• The Mountain systems in Gonder and Gojjam are

separated from the eastern group of mountains in
Wello by impenetrable and deep gorges.
• At one point though, they are connected by Yeju-
Wadla Delanta land bridge (ridge).
• This land bridge has been significant in history. It
served as a route of penetration by the Turks,
Portuguese, and Italians etc.
• The Woreta-Debre Tabor-Woldya road
constructed to link the northwestern region with
Asseb through Woldya and Dessie took advantage
of this land bridge.
 c. The Shewa Plateau/central highlands

• The Shewan plateau is bounded by

– the Rift Valley in the east and southeast
– the Abay gorge in its northern and western limit
– the Omo gorge in the south and west

• This plateau occupies a central geographical

position in Ethiopia.
 Con…
• With only 11% of the area of the whole
physiographic region, the Shewa Plateau is the
smallest of the Western highlands.
• Nearly three-fourth of its area is at an altitude
of more than 2,000 meters above sea level.
• It has, therefore, the largest proportion of
elevated ground.
 Con…
• The Shewa plateau is drained, outward in all
directions by the tributaries of Abay, Omo, and
Awash.
• They have created several tablelands and
isolated plateau units in the north.
 Con…
• This plateau has relatively extensive flat-
topped uplands, giving it the appearance of a
true plateau.
• The highest mountain in the Shewan plateau is
– Mt. Abuye-Meda (4,000 m.a.s.l) in Northern
Shewa,
– Mt. Guraghe (3,721 m.a.s.l.) in the south
 d. The Southwestern Highlands

• This Physiographic subdivision consists of the

highlands of Wellega, Illuababora, Jimma,
Kaffa, Gamo and Gofa.
• This region is separated from the adjacent
highlands by the Abay and Omo river valleys.
 Con…
• It extends from the Abay gorge in the north to
the Kenya border and Chew Bahir in the south.

• It accounts for 22.7% of the area of the region.

• The region is the second largest in the
Western highlands.
• About 70% of its area is lies within 1,000-
2,000 meters altitude.
 Con…

• The southwestern plateau is the wettest in

Ethiopia.
• It is drained by Dabus, Deddessa (tributaries of
Abay), Baro, Akobo and the Ghibe/Omo rivers.
• The numerous streams have cut these
highlands to produce the most dissected and
rugged terrain that accommodates the most
numerous and diverse ethnic linguistic groups
in Ethiopia.
• The highest peak in this physiographic
subdivision is:
– Guge Mountain (4,200 m.a.s.l.)
 The Western Lowlands
• These are the western foothills and border
plains that extend from Western Tigray in the
north to southern Gamo-Gofa in the South.
• In certain places, ridges or part of the
highlands protrude into the lowlands,
interrupting their continuity.
• The general elevation ranges between 500
and 1000 m.a.s.l.
 Con…

• This physiographic sub-region is further

subdivided into four by the protruding ridges.
These are
– Tekeze lowland,
– Abay-Dinder lowland,
– Baro lowland, and
– Ghibe lowland from north to south.
 Con…

• Small but important towns; in history,

agriculture and frontier ports:-
Humera
Metema
Omedla
Kurmuk
Gambela
 2. The Southeastern (Eastern) Highlands and
Lowlands
• This physiographic region is the second largest
in terms of area.
• It accounts for 37% of the area of Ethiopia.
• The highlands make up 46% of the
physiographic division while the rest is
lowland.
• In the west and north, the eastern escarpment
of the Rift Valley makes the western and
northern limit.
 A. The Arsi-Bale-Sidama Highlands
• These highlands are found to the east of the
Lakes Region.
• They make up 28.5% of the area of the region
and 62% of the south - Eastern Highlands.
• The Arsi Highlands - The well-known
mountains in this area are
– Mt. Kaka (4,180 m.a.s.l),
– Mt. Bada (4,139 m.a.s.l)
– Mt. Chilalo (4,036 m.a.s.l).
 Con…

• The Bale highlands are separated from the Arsi

highlands by the head and main stream of
Wabishebelle.
• The Bale highlands - The highest mountain peaks in
this region are
– Tulu-Demtu (4,377 m.a.s.l)

– Mt. Batu (4,307 m.a.s.l).

 Con…

• The Sidama Highlands are separated from the

Bale Highlands by the Ghenale river valley.
• They occupy the southwestern corner of this
region.
• The prominent feature here is the Jemjem
plateau, an important coffee growing area.
 Con…
• Rivers Wabishebelle and Ghenale along with their
tributaries have dissected this physiographic
region.
• Specially, Weyb River, tributary of Ghenale, has cut
an underground passage (Sof Omar cave) through
the Mesozoic Limestone rocks.
• The cave is found near Bale Mountains. It is one of
the World's most spectacular and extensive
underground caverns creating a magnificent view
accessible only by an underground stream.
 B. The Hararghe Plateau
• This plateau is a north-easterly extension of
the south-eastern highlands.
• It extends from the Chercher highlands in the
south-west to Jigjiga in the east.
• It makes up 38% of the South Eastern
highlands and 17.4% of the whole
physiographic region.
• It has the smallest proportion of upper
highland (>2,000 meters). It is a low lying and
elongated region.
 Con…

• The left-bank tributaries of Wabishebelle

drain it.
• Much of the Trappean lava is removed and
the Mesozoic rocks are extensively exposed.
• The highest mountain here is:
– Mt. Gara-Muleta (3,381 m.a.s.l)
 The Southeastern Lowlands
• located in the southeastern part of the
country
• the most extensive lowlands in Ethiopia.
• They make up 54% of the area of the
physiographic region and around one-fifth of
the country.
• This region is divided into:
– Wabishebelle plain (60%)
– Ghenale Plain (40%)
• They include the plains of Ogaden, Elkere, and
Borena.
 Con…

• Southeastward sloping plains characterize

these lowlands.
• These extensive plains are interrupted here
and there, by low hills, low ridges, inselbergs
and by shallow and broad river valleys and
depressions.
 Con…

• Because of the harsh climatic conditions, these

lowlands are little used and support very small
population.
• They are sparsely inhabited by pastoral and semi-
pastoral communities.
• The economic potential for this region includes:-
– animal husbandry,

– Irrigation agriculture

– petroleum and natural gas

 3. The Rift Valley
• a tectonically formed structural depression
• bounded by two major and more or less
parallel escarpments
• has separated the Ethiopian Highlands and
Lowlands in to two.
• It extends from the Afar triangle in the north
to Chew Bahir for about 1,700 km.
• It covers 18% of the area of Ethiopia
 Con…

• It is elongated and funnel shaped, with a NE-

SW orientation.
• It opens out in the Afar Triangle, where it is
the widest, and narrows down to the south.
• The floor of the Rift Valley is made up of
interconnected troughs, grabens and
depressions.
• Volcanic rocks, fluvial and lacustrine deposits
cover the floor.
• In many places, numerous volcanic domes,
hills and cinder cones rise from the floor.
 Con…
• Altitude in the floor ranges from 125 m.b.s.l.
at Dallol Depression, to as high as 2,000
m.a.s.l. in the Lakes region.
• The bounding escarpments are also of varying
heights.
• From the floor to the edge of the escarpment,
the heights vary from 200 to 1500 meters.
 Con…
• Because of its altitudinal variation and positional
differences, the climate also varies from warm,
hot and dry to cool and moderately moist
conditions.
• Similarly, the social and economic life reflects
this pattern.
• There are places, which are desolate and sparsely
inhabited by pastoralists where as in others parts
people practice some rain-fed agriculture.
 Con…

• The Rift Valley is further subdivided into three

physiographic sub-regions.
– the Afar Triangle,
– the Main Ethiopian Rift, and
– the Chew Bahir Rift.
 The Afar Triangle

• the largest and widest part

• It makes up 54% of the Rift Valley area

• The area is generally of low altitude (300-700

meters)
• The depression, which hosts one of the most
hostile environments on Earth (maximum
temperatures can exceed 50°C during the summer
wet season; Dallol, at the northern tip of Afar.
 Con…

• The area is characterized by faulted depressions

(grabens), volcanic hills, active volcanoes, volcanic
ridges, lava fields and low lava platforms.
• Lakes (Abe, Asale, and Afrera) occupy some of
these basins.
• A prominent feature in this region is the Denakil
Depression (Kobar Sink). Separated from the Red
Sea by a 200 meters high land barrier, much of it
lies below sea level. A larger part of this is covered
by thick and extensive salt plain. Lake Asale and
Lake Afrera occupy the lowest parts of this sunken
depression.
 Con…

• The Afar Triangle is generally hot and dry.

• The only respite one gets in the Southern part

is from the waters of the Awash River.
• The economic importance of this region
includes:
– salt extraction,
– irrigation along the Awash River
– electric potential from geothermal energy.
 The Main Ethiopian Rift/Central Rift

• extends from Awash River in the north to Lake

Chamo in the south
• With the exception of the Arbaminch area, the
bounding escarpments are generally low.
• the narrowest and the highest part
• It has an average width of 50-80 kilometers
and general elevation of 1,000-2,000 meters
above sea level.
• The floor in many places is dotted by cinder
cones and volcanic mountains.
 Con…

• Because of altitude, the lakes region of the

Main Ethiopian Rift is generally milder and
watery.
• Here rain-fed agriculture is practiced.

• Other resource bases include the recreational

value of the lakes, the agricultural importance
of some streams and lakes, and the
geothermal energy potential.
 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.
• The characteristic feature of this region is the 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
• Agricultural practices
• Settlement pattern
• Transportation and communication
• Hydroelectric power potential
• Socio-cultural feeling
• Impacts on climate
• Impacts on soil
• Impacts on natural vegetation