Climate of Ethiopia
The climate of Ethiopia is tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation that is temperate on the plateau and hot in the lowlands. At Addis Ababa, which ranges from 2,200 to 2,600 m (7,218 to 8,530 ft), maximum temperature is 26 °C (78.8 °F) and minimum 4 °C (39.2 °F). Weather is usually sunny and dry, but the short rains occur from February to April and the big rains from mid-June to mid-September. The climate of Ethiopia and its dependent territories varies greatly. There are two seasons: the dry season prevails from October through May; the wet season runs from June to September.
Population
Ethiopia had 82,544,840 (July 2008 EST.). With a 2014 population of approximately 97,970,452 (increased from 2013’s estimate of 95,045,679) according to the most recent United Nations projections that make Ethiopia the 13th most populous country. Ethiopia is the largest landlocked country in the continent of Africa and is also the second largest country in Africa, behind only Nigeria in population.
Topography
With an area of 114 million square kilometers, Ethiopia is strategically located in the Horn of Africa. From the north and running down the centre are the Abyssinian highlands. To the west of the chain the land drops to the grasslands of Sudan, to the east to the deserts of the Afar. South of Addis Ababa, the land is dominated by the Rift Valley Lakes. Ethiopia’s central plateau varies in height between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. In the north and centre of the country there are some 25 mountains whose peaks rise over 4,000 meters (13,200ft), the highest being Ras Dashen at 4,543 meters (14,538ft).
Time
Ethiopia is in the GMT + 3 hours time zone. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consist of twelve months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 or 6 days.