Ethiopia > Interesting Facts
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Cradle of Human
beings
Ethiopia is the land of the origin of
the first human species, that is justified with discover of Lucy,
“Lucy” was found in 1974 by an American Paleo Anthropologist and
they have been listening to the music called “Lucy in the sky with
Diamonds” from where she got her name. Lucy aged 3.2 million years
and its scientific name is Australopithecus Afarensis.
In breaking news scientists working
in Ethiopia have discovered a skeleton of a three – years old girl
“ Selam” who lived 3.3 million years ago, that is 150,000 years
before Lucy . It is found in Dikaka area, in North Eastern
Ethiopia. Dikika Research Project Paleoantropolgical Research Team
Leader, Dr. Zeresenay Alemsegd of the Max Plank Institute in
Leipzig, Germany said that “The Skeleton is the earliest and most
complete ever found”. Out of the 14th human and pre-human fossils
that have so far been uncovered around the world, 10 are from
Ethiopia, this underscores that Ethiopia is the origin of Human
kind.
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Ethiopian Calendar
Ethiopia still retains the Julian
calendar, in which the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days
each, and a 13th month of five days and six days during the leap
year. The Ethiopian Calendar is almost eight years behind the
Gregorian calendar.
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Meskerem |
September 11, 2006 – October 10, 2006 |
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Tikimit |
October 11, 2006 – November 9, 2006 |
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Hidar |
November 10, 2006 – December 9, 2006 |
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Tahisas |
December 10, 2006 – January 7, 2007 |
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Tir |
January 8, 2007 – February 7, 2007 |
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Yekatit |
February 8, 2007 – March 9, 2007 |
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Megabit |
March 10, 2007 – April 8, 2007 |
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Miyazya |
April 9, 2007 – May 8, 2007 |
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Ginbot |
May 9, 2007 – June 7, 2007 |
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Sene |
June 8, 2007 – July 7, 2007 |
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Hamle |
July 8, 2007 – August 5, 2007 |
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Nehase |
August 6, 2007 – September 5, 2007 |
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Puagme |
September 6, 2007 – September 10, 2007 |
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Ethiopian Alphabet and Numbers
Ethiopia is the
only African country with its own Alphabet Letters and numbers that traces
its origin back to Sabean. The Ethiopian Alphabet consists of 33 letters
each with 7 characters. In Earlier times and also currently in rural areas
people start school in “Kies Timehrt” and “ Yeneta” is a title given to
Ethiopian Traditional primary teachers. Most of the time these primary
Alphabet teachers are priests from the Ethiopian Orthodox church.
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Birth Place of Coffee
Ethiopians
have a very beautiful traditional coffee ceremony, its unimaginable for
most Ethiopians to start a new day with out several cups of coffee. Coffee
is the best drink an Ethiopian family offers to honor guests, as coffee
ceremony is the best occasion for a get-together with neighbors and
friends. Ethiopian coffee ceremony might have been crated with the
discovery of coffee itself in its south western heartland, in particular
place called “Kaffa” from which, many experts of the uniquely fragrant and
relaxing bean believe, the firm coffee has originated and joined the
international lexicon. Coffee, café, etc |
Ethiopia a land of wonders and ancient Misery
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Tiya pre Historic Stalaes:
Axum, the source and seat
of the ancient Ethiopian civilization, houses 7 giant stelae / obelisks.
Most of these giant obelisks have fallen and one of these has been taken
to Rome during the Italian Invasion in 1937. Successful negotiations have
been made for the return of the Obelisk to Ethiopia. The ruins of the
Queen of Sheba's Palace and the Ark of the Covenant is believed to have
been found all around Axum.
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The Stalae of Axum
Is found in the Last area of Wollo, which is famous site for the eleven remarkable rock-hewn monolithic churches, which has been built by King Lalibela in the late 12th century. Those notable structures are carved inside and outside of the solid rock and are accredited globally among the wonders of the world. Each building of the churches is architecturally unique and is decorated with fascinating rock paintings.
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Lalibela rock-hewn churches
Is found in the Last area of Wollo, which is famous site for the eleven remarkable rock-hewn monolithic churches, which has been built by King Lalibela in the late 12th century. Those notable structures are carved inside and outside of the solid rock and are accredited globally among the wonders of the world. Each building of the churches is architecturally unique and is decorated with fascinating rock paintings.
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Castles of Gondar & Church of Debre-Berhan Selassie
Gondar, situated in northwestern part of the country, Gondar was the 17th and 19th century capital of Ethiopia. Its medieval glory is reflected in the famous castles of the emperors of the time. Debre Berhan – Selassie Trinity Church which was built during the reign of Emperor Eyasu I (1682-1708) in Gondar City, Which famous for colorful paints on the ceilings.
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The Simien Mountain Massif –
Is named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, which is found twenty kilometers north –east of Gondar, it covers 179 square kilometers of highland area at an average elevation of 3,300 meters. Ras Dashen, at 4,620 meters is the highest peak of Ethiopia and the 4th highest mountain in Africa stands adjacent to the park. It is a home of unique wild animals and birds like Walia (Abyssinian) Ibex, Simien red fox and Gelada Baboon – all endemic of Ethiopia as well as the Hamadryas baboon, Klipspringer and bushbuck. Birds such as the lammergeyer, augur buzzard, Verreaux’s eagle, Kestrel and falcon soar above this mountain retreat.
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The Walled City of Harar
One of the old cities founded in 7th century AD. Especially renowned for its minarets and holy shrines. And have a remarkable housing, it’s thick and strong old walls, called the Gate of Harar, and the colorful dressing personality of the duller. Another miraculous phenomenon is the drama of the man feeding hyenas from meat held in his own hands. |
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Ethiopia a Land or Runners –
it was Abebe Bikila who is
pioneer in Olympic champion running barefoot through the streets of
Rome in 1960 in Marathon and doubled his gold medal for years later in
Tokyo Olympic and then his successor Mamo Wolde won in Marathon title in
Mexico Olympic in 1968. Mirutse Yifter, nicknamed Yifter the gear shifter,
won double Olympic gold medals in 5,000 and 10,000 in Moscow Olympic in
1980 since then Ethiopian dominate the men’s long distance race around the
world. . Haile Gebreslassie is the greatest athlete of all time, his
double Olympic victories 10,000 meters four successive world championship
titles spanning eight years and seventeen world records are some of the
proofs of this and the young kenensa Bekele nicknamed “Abnbesa” the lion
with many Ethiopians. |
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And in Females Derartu Tulu
become the first African to win the Olympic title in Barcelona and again
in Sydney Olympic with breathtaking last lap of 60.26 seconds, setting a
new Olympic world record in 10,000 meters. Fatuma Roba followed with a
marathon gold medal in Atlanta Olympic. Gete wami won 10,000 meters world
championships in Seville, Spain in 1999 and following them there are lot’s
of young emerging athletes like Turinesh Dibaba, Meserte Defar and
Egigayehu Dibaba The Great Ethiopian Run … is a
race which will be taking place starting from year 2000 under the director
of famous athlete Haile Gebreslassie, this year 25,000 people were
participating and among them are Ambassadors, famous people, and people
who come to race from other African countries and around the globe it’s
mixed of all people having fun, making awareness and sharing friendship
among people. |
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