Home > Ethiopia Map > Physical Map of Ethiopia

Physical Map of Ethiopia

by Aakash Singha

This physical map of Ethiopia displays relief, including plateaus, rivers, mountain peaks, plains, and other topographic features of Ethiopia.


Physical Map of Ethiopia

 

Ethiopia, known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia officially, is a country in the Somali Peninsula (Horn of Africa) of East Africa. It is a landlocked country and shares a boundary with Djibouti and Eritrea to the north, Somaliland to the northeast, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the east, Sudan to the northwest and South Sudan west. Ethiopia covers a total area of 1,127,127 square kilometres. The border of Ethiopia is 5,311 km long. Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is located on the map.

Ethiopia Physical Features

One can point out the latitudes and longitudes of Ethiopia on the map along with international boundaries. The country is located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator between latitudes 3. N and 15. N and longitudes 33. E and 48.E. Ethiopia is a geographically and topographically diverse country ranging from fertile land in the west with numerous forests and rivers to the hottest settlement of the world, Dallol in its north.  The topography of Africa is one of the most rugged in Africa, and its relief features include:

Ethiopian Highlands

The Ethiopian Highlands are a rocky mass of mountains in northeast Africa, also called the Roof of Africa. The Ethiopian plateau consists of western highlands and Eastern highlands, which are separated by Eastern Rift Valley. The western Highlands are the rugged and extensive topographic feature of Ethiopia. North Central Massifs, the most crucial part, form the roof of Ethiopia. Mount Ras Dejen, the highest point in Africa, 14,872 feet (4,533), is located in this region. The Eastern Highlands are comparatively smaller in extent than the western Highlands, but they offer topographic variation too. The

The highest peaks are Mount Batu at 14,127 (4305 metres) and Tullu Deemtu at 14,460 feet (4,377 metres).

Ethiopian lowlands

Ethiopian lowlands consist of western and eastern lowlands. The western lowlands stretch along the border with South Sudan and Sudan in the north-south direction. Western lowlands include the lower valleys of the Tekeze, Baro and Blue Nile rivers. The Eastern lowlands formed from the dip in the Eastern Highlands and formed gentle rolling plains for miles towards the Somali border. The most important region here is the Ogaden desert, an arid region in eastern Ethiopia.

Rift Valley

The Rift Valley in Ethiopia is part of the Larger East African Rift System. Surrounded by the Western and Eastern highlands, it is divided into two sections. The valley widens into a funnel shape in the northeastern region while approaching the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The area is relatively flat, sometimes erupted by volcanic cones, some of which are active. The depression called Kobar Sink (380 feet) below sea level in the region Danakil plain is found here. The southwestern part of Rift Valley, on the other hand, has a depression of higher height. It consists of the Lake region of Ethiopia, an internal drainage basin of many small rivers which drains into Lake Awasa, Langano, Abaya, and more.

Principal Rivers in Ethiopia

The principal rivers in the western part of Ethiopia include Tekeze, Baro and Blue Nile, known as Abay in Ethiopia. The Rift Valley internal drainage systems are composed of the Omo River and Awash River. The eastern part of Ethiopia has Genele and Shabelle Rivers.

Physical Map of Neighbouring Countries

 

Related Maps