Ethiopia

Quick facts

How to spot Ethiopia from satellite imagery

Ethiopia covers 1.1 million square kilometres in the Horn of Africa, making it the tenth-largest country on the continent and one of the most populous countries in Africa with over 120 million people. The country sits on the Ethiopian Highlands, a massive raised plateau formed by volcanic activity over millions of years, cut by the Great Rift Valley running through the centre. The result is one of the most topographically dramatic countries on the continent — average elevation is over 1,300 metres, with peaks above 4,500 metres in both the Simien and the Bale mountains, and the Danakil Depression dropping to 125 metres below sea level in the northeast.

For geography games, Ethiopia is a high-value country to learn because of its size, the strength of its aerial signatures, and the frequency with which it appears. This guide walks through the cues that lock Ethiopia in fast.