In 2015, I had the opportunity to cross the Simien Mountains on foot. Traversing this massif, among the highest in Africa, was an incredible experience in its own right (read the article on the Simien). But an unexpected encounter made this adventure even more unforgettable.
Continue reading“The Ethiopian Wolf, the wolf on the roof of Africa”
Ethiopia Paper
Ethiopia: The salt from lake Karum
Lake Karum is a salt lake located in Ethiopia, at the northern end of the Great Rift Valley. This lake, as well as the volcanoes of Dallol and Erta Ale, are among the most improbable landscapes of the Danakil Depression. This place also offers a timeless spectacle. Indeed, perpetuating a centuries-old tradition, Tigrayans travel to Lake Karum from the Ethiopian highlands, followed by long caravans of dromedaries and donkeys in order to recover salt slabs from the dry areas of the lake, a vestige of a time when the sea still flooded the Danakil Depression.
Ethiopia: The Erta Ale volcano and its lava lake
Erta Ale is an Ethiopian volcano located in the Afar region, in the northeast of the country, within the East African Rift Valley. Standing 613 meters high with a base diameter of 30 kilometers, its broad, low-profile shape classifies it as a “shield volcano.”
At the summit of this highly active volcano lies a caldera containing two pit craters. The South Pit, 200 meters in diameter, is currently the most impressive as it houses a permanent lava lake where molten rock reaches temperatures of 1,200 degrees Celsius. The lake’s level fluctuates constantly; in January 2017, it rose high enough to overflow. By April 2017, the level had dropped, offering observers a spectacular and cyclical phenomenon of emptying and refilling, which can be seen in the videos at the end of this article.
Continue reading“Ethiopia: The Erta Ale volcano and its lava lake”
Ethiopia: The Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains, located in the northern Ethiopian Highlands, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. Due to their high altitude, these plateaus enjoy a cooler and wetter climate than the surrounding lowlands. This environment supports the local population, mostly small-scale farmers, who are even able to cultivate coffee beans in this unique landscape.
The massif is a vital sanctuary for several endemic species. The most iconic inhabitants are the Gelada baboons and the Ethiopian Wolf. The latter is one of the world’s rarest canids, with only about 500 individuals remaining in the wild.