Ethiopia

East Africa · mountain nation · populous · Horn of Africa

Epic rift valley. Ethiopia is split right down the middle by the East African Rift, a massive crack in Earth's crust where two tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. The capital city Addis Ababa sits right next to this geological marvel.

Super populous. With around 138 million people, Ethiopia is the 10th-most populous country in the entire world. That's nearly as many people as Russia or Japan, all living in one East African nation.

Located perfectly. Ethiopia sits in the Horn of Africa and touches six different countries, including Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Eritrea. Being landlocked means it has no coastline, but its location made it a crossroads for trade and culture for thousands of years.

Vast landscape. Ethiopia covers more than 1.1 million square kilometers, making it the size of Egypt or slightly larger than Texas. Its diverse terrain includes mountains, deserts, and valleys that are home to incredible wildlife and ancient peoples.

Ancient capital. Addis Ababa, the capital city, is one of Africa's most important cities and serves as the headquarters for the African Union. The name means 'new flower' in Amharic, Ethiopia's main language.