Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn PDF

@keleme_20 13 On telegram Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University GEOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN BY Fentanesh Haile (Asst. Profesor) Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  CHAPTER ONE I...

@keleme_20 13 On telegram Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University GEOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN BY Fentanesh Haile (Asst. Profesor) Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1. Geography: Definition, Scope and Themes -It is difficult to forward a definition acceptable to all geographers at all times and places, -because of the dynamic nature of the discipline and the changes in its scope and method of study. However, the following may be accepted as a working definition. -Geography is the scientific study of the Earth that describes and analyses spatial and temporal variations of physical, biological and human phenomena, and their interrelationships and dynamism over the surface of the Earth. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  1.1.2. The Scope, Approaches and Themes of Geography Geography has now acquired the status of science that explains the arrangements of various natural and cultural features on the Earth surface. It is a holistic and interdisciplinary field of study contributing to the understanding of the changing spatial structures from the past to the future. Thus, the scope of Geography is the surface of the Earth, which is the very thin zone that is the interface of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, which provides the habitable zone in which life forms & humans are able to live. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Geography can be approached by considering two continuums: a human- physical continuum and a topical-regional continuum. The topical (systematic) fields of Geography view particular categories of physical or human phenomena as distributed over the Earth while regional geography is concerned with the associations within regions of all or some of the elements and their interrelationships. Geography has five basic themes namely location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d Location: is defined as a particular place or position. Most studies of geography begin with the mention of this theme of geography. Location can be of two types: absolute location and relative location. Place: refers to the physical and human aspects of a location. This theme of geography is associated with toponym (the name of a place), site (the description of the features of the place), and situation (the environmental conditions of the place). Each place in the world has its unique characteristics expressed in terms of landforms, hydrology, biogeography, pedology, characteristics and size of its human population, and the distinct human cultures. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d Human-Environment Interaction: Humans have always been on ceaseless interaction with their natural environment. No other species that has lived on our planet has a profound effect on the environment as humans. Humans have adapted to the environment in ways that have allowed them to dominate all other species on Earth. Thus, human-environment interaction involves three distinct aspects: dependency, adaptation, and modification. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d Movement: Movement entails to the translocation of human beings, their goods, and their ideas from one end of the planet to another. The physical movement of people allowed the human race to inhabit all the continents and islands of the world. Another aspect of movement is the transport of goods from one place on the Earth to another. The third dimension of movement is the flow of ideas that allows the unification of the human civilization and promotes its growth and prosperity. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d Region: is a geographic area having distinctive characteristics that distinguishes itself from adjacent unit(s) of space. It could be a formal region that is characterized by homogeneity in terms of a certain phenomenon (soil, temperature, rainfall, or other cultural elements like language, religion, and economy). It can also be a functional or nodal region characterized by functional interrelationships in a spatial system defined by the linkages binding particular phenomena. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  1.2. Location, Shape and Size of Ethiopia and the Horn The Horn of Africa, a region of eastern Africa, is a narrow tip that protrudes into the northern Indian Ocean, separating it from the Gulf of Aden. It is home to the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, whose cultures have been linked throughout their long history. Although the countries of the region share many common features, there is also great diversity among them, rendering each country unique. -In terms of size, Ethiopia is the largest of all the Horn of African countries, -while Djibouti isFentanesh theHaile smallest. ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d contains such diverse areas as the highlands of the Ethiopian Plateau, the Ogaden desert, and the Eritrean and Somali coasts. Its coasts are washed by the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean, and it has long been in contact with the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Asia. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  1.2.1. Location of Ethiopia The location a map or a globe is expressed in two different ways (astronomical and relative locations) Astronomically, Ethiopia is a landlocked country located between 3°N (Moyale) and 15°N (Bademe the northernmost tip of Tigray) latitudes and 33°E (Akobo) to 48°E (the tip of Ogaden in the east) longitudes. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d The latitudinal and longitudinal extensions are important in two ways. 1st,as a result of its latitudinal extension the country experiences tropical climate 2nd, due to its longitudinal extension there is a difference of one hour between the most easterly and most westerly points of the country. It is only for convenience that the 3 hours-time zone is used in Fentanesh all parts of the country. Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University Table 1.1: The relative location of Ethiopia Vicinal location In relation to water bodies & land masses Sudan to the west and In the Horn of Northwest Africa South Sudan to Southwest of the southwest Arabian Peninsula Djibouti to the east South of Europe Eritrea to the north and Northwest of the northeast Indian Ocean Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  The implications of the location of Ethiopia a) Climate: Ethiopia is located between 3°N and 15°N (between the Equator and Tropic of Cancer) implies that the country has a tropical climate, though modified by its altitude. The location of Ethiopia relative to the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the African and Asian landmass has also various bearings on the climate of Ethiopia. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d B) Socio-cultural: -Ethiopia is one of the earliest recipients of the major world religions namely Christianity, Islam and Judaism due to its proximity to the Middle East, which was the origin of these religions. -The linguistic and other cultural relationships, which Ethiopia shares with its neighbors, reflect the influence of Fentanesh location. Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d c) Political: -The political history of Ethiopia has been considerably influenced by: Geopolitical considerations of superpowers. Adjacency to the Red Sea (a major global trade route). The Middle East geopolitical paradigms. As a result, Ethiopia has been exposed for external invasions in a number of times; though the country resisted foreign intervention and remains free of external domination. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University Figure 1.1.Ethiopia‟s location in relation to its neighboring countries Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  1.2.2. Size of Ethiopia Ethiopia with a total area of approximately 1,106,000 sqkms is the 8th largest country in Africa and 25th in the World. It extends about 1,639 kms East-West, and 1,577 kilometers North-South. About 0.7% of the country is covered by water bodies. The size of Ethiopia also affects both the natural and human environment of the country. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Table 1.2. The advantages and disadvantages of Ethiopia’s large size Advantages Disadvantages Possess diverse agro Demands greater capital to ecological zones construct infrastructural facilities Variety of natural Requires large army to resources protect its territory Own extensive arable land Difficult for effective administration Have larger population size Difficult for socio-economic integration Home for diverse cultures Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  1.2.3. The shape of Ethiopia and its Implication Countries of the World have different kinds of shape that can be divided into five main categories:  compact,  fragmented,  elongated,  perforated, and  protruded. -These shapes have implications on defense, administration and economic integration within a country. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d 1. Compact shape countries: The distance from the geographic centre of the state to any of the borders does not vary greatly. It is easier for defense, socioeconomic and cultural integration. Eg: Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, 2. Fragmented shape countries: They are divided from their other parts by either water, land or other countries.  Eg: UK, Greek, 3. Elongated shape countries: They are geographically long and relatively narrow like Chile. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d 4. Perforated shape countries: A country that completely surrounds another country like the Republic of South Africa. -South Africa surrounds Lesotho 5. Protrude shape countries: Countries that have one portion that is much more elongated than the rest of the country like Myanmar and Eritrea. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d There are various ways of measuring shape of countries. These measures are known as the indices of compact These indices measure the deviation of the shape of a country from a circular shape, Since there is no country with absolutely circular shape, those approximating a circular shape are said to be more compact. There are four most commonly used measures of compactness Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d 1. The ratio of area of country to its boundary length: Area-Boundary ratio. The higher the A/B ratio, the greater the degree of compactness. 2. The ratio of boundary length of a country to the circumference of a circle having the same area as the country itself: Boundary-Circumference ratio. It measures how far the boundary of a country approximates the circumference of a circle of its own size. Therefore, the nearer the ratio to 1 the more compact the country is. 3. The ratio of the area of the country to the circumference of the smallest inscribing circle: Area-Circumference ratio. It compares the area of the country with the circumference of a circle that passes touching the extreme points on the boundary of the country. The higher the A/C ratio, the greater the degree of compactness. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d 4. The ratio of the actual area of a country to the smallest possible inscribing circle: Area-Area (A/A‟) ratio. The area of the inscribing circle is the area of the smallest possible circle whose circumference passes through the extreme points on the boundary. Half-length of the longest distance between two extreme points gives radius of the inscribing circle. The nearer the ratio to 1, the more compact the country is. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  1.3. Basic Skills of Map Reading What is a Map? A map is a two-dimensional scaled representation of part or whole of the Earth surface on a flat body such as piece of paper, black board, wood or cloth. Map reading encompasses a systematic identification of natural features and manmade features.  Importance of maps  Provide the basis for making geographical details of regions represented i.e. the geographical facts of an area such as relief, drainage, settlement etc.  Maps are powerful tools for making spatial analysis of geographical facts of areas represented. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d  Maps are useful for giving location of geographical features by varied methods of grid reference, place naming etc.  Maps are used on various disciplines like land use planning, military science, aviation, tourism, marine science, population studies, epidemiology, geology, economics, history, archaeology, agriculture etc.  Map makes storage of the geographical data of areas represented.  Maps are potentially used to asses‟ reliable measurements of the geographical features. The measurements can be of area size, distance etc. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Types of Map There are many types of maps according to their purpose and functions. For the purpose of this course, topographical and statistical maps are considered. a. Topographical maps: Topographic maps depict one or more natural and cultural features of an area. They could be small, medium or large scale depending on the size of the area represented. Fentanesh Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d b. Special purpose/statistical maps: These are maps, which show distribution of different aspects such as temperature, rainfall, settlement, vegetation etc. Marginal Information on Maps (Elements of Maps) Marginal information is shown on a map to enable the reading and interpretation of the geographical information of an area represented. a. Title: It is the heading of the given map which tells what the map is all about. b. Key (legend): It is the list of all convectional symbols and signs shown on the Fentanesh map with Haile ( their interpretation. Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University  Cont’d c. Scale: It is the ratio between the distance on the map and the actual ground distance. Scales enable the map user to interpret the ground measurement like road distance, areal sizes, gradient etc. -It can be expressed as representative fraction, statements/verbal scale, and linear (graphic) scale. d. North arrow: It is indicated with the north direction on a map; used to know the other important directions of the mapped area like east, west, south, and west. e. Margin: Is the frame of the map. It is important for showing the end of the mapped area. f. Date of compilation: It is a date of map publication. This enables map users to realize whether the mapFentanesh is updated or outdated. Haile ( Asst.Professor), Bahir Dar University