LART1004-Chapter 3 (1)

CHAPTER THREE
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF
ETHIOPIA
AND
THE HORN
3.1. Introduction
• The topography of Ethiopia is largely determined by the geologic activities of
the Cenozoic Era.
The uplifting of the Arabo-Ethiopian and
The outpouring and accumulation of Trapean lava
Faulting
General Characteristics of the Ethiopian Physiography

• The Ethiopian landform is characterized by great diversity.
There are flat-topped plateaus,
High and rugged mountains,
Deep river gorges and vast plains.
Altitude ranges from 125 meters below sea level (Kobar Sink) to the 4,620
m.a.s.l), Mount Ras Dashen which is the fourth highest mountain in Africa.
• Ethiopia has the largest proportion of elevated landmass in the African
continent
More than 50% of the Ethiopian landmass is above 1,000 meters
above 1,500 meters makes 44% of the country
above 2,000 meters makes 22% of the country
• Most of the Ethiopian Highlands are part of central and northern Ethiopia,
and its northernmost portion extends into Eritrea
• It is sometimes described as the Roof of East Africa

Cont.…
• The highland core, on the other hand, is encircled by semi-arid and lowlands
• Dissected by several rivers and ravines which have cut deep gorges.
• Are sources of many rivers and streams that made the country to be described
as the “Water Tower of East Africa”.
• The diversity in topography is accompanied by differences in other natural

features such as
• Soil, climate, vegetation and wild life.
• Socio-cultural and economic phenomena.
Taking the 1,000 meters contour line for the highland-lowland demarcation,
one observes the following contrasting features between the Ethiopian
highlands and lowlands
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.
These highlands make up nearly 56% of the area of the Ethiopia. This is further
subdivided into:-
• lower highland (1,000 - 2,000 m.a.s.l), which make up 34% and
• higher highland (>2,000 m.a.s.l) constituting nearly 22%.
Characteristics of Ethiopian Lowlands:
• 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.
3.2. The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
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
3.2.1. The Western Highlands and Lowlands
• This physiographic unit includes all the area west of the Rift Valley.
• It makes up about 44% of the area of the country
• This region is further subdivided into four groups of highlands (76.3%) and four groups
of lowlands (23.7%)
A. The Western Highlands (76.3%)

a. The Tigray Plateau (13%)
b. North Central Massifs(53.3%)
c. The Shewa Plateau/central highlands(11%)
d. The Southwestern Highlands(22.7%)
B. The Western Lowlands(23.7%)
e. Tekeze lowland
f. Abay-Dinder lowland
g. Baro lowland
h. Ghibe lowland
3.2.2. The South-eastern Highlands and Lowlands
• is the second largest in terms of area(37% )
• The highlands make up 46% of the physiographic division while the rest is
lowland.
• Further subdivided into two units of highlands and two units of extensive
lowlands.
A. The Arsi-Bale-Sidama Highlands South-Eastern High land
B. The Hararghe Plateau
A. The Wabishebelle plain (60%) and South-Eastern Low Land

B. The Ghenale Plain
3.2.3. The Rift Valley
• It extends from the Afar triangle in the north to Chew Bahir for about 1,700
km2
• It covers 19% of the area of Ethiopia.
• It is elongated and funnel shaped, with a NE-SW orientation.
• Altitude in the floor ranges from 125bmsl at Dallol Depression, to as high as
2,000 amsl in the Lakes region.
• From the floor to the edge of the escarpment, the heights vary from 200 to
1500 meters.
• The Rift Valley is further subdivided into three physiographic sub-regions.
These are:-
• The Afar Triangle,
• The Main Ethiopian Rift, and
• The Chew Bahir Rift.
3.3. The Impacts of Relief on Biophysical and
Socioeconomic Conditions
1. Agricultural practices
Relief influences farm size and shape in that in an area of rugged terrain the
farmlands are small in size and fragmented and tend to be irregular in shape.
 Choice of farming techniques is highly influenced by relief as:-
• In rugged terrain mechanized farming techniques are difficult to practice.
 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

• sheep are reared in the higher altitudes and camels and goat are well adapted to
lower altitudes
2. Settlement pattern
Highlands of Ethiopia that experience a temperate type of climatic

condition ….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

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

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CHAPTER THREE

General Characteristics of the Ethiopian Physiography

• It is sometimes described as the Roof of East Africa

• The diversity in topography is accompanied by differences in other natural

Three major physiographic units can be identified in Ethiopia. These are:

A. The Western Highlands (76.3%)

A. The Wabishebelle plain (60%) and South-Eastern Low Land

The practice of animal husbandry is also influenced by relief

Highlands of Ethiopia that experience a temperate type of climatic

The highlands of Ethiopia are characterized by:-

 The highly dissected nature of the landscape is a barrier to the development of

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