Mount Entoto
Encyclopedia
Mount Entoto is the highest peak overlooking the city of Addis Ababa
, the capital of Ethiopia
. Mount Entoto is part of the Entoto mountain chain
, reaching 3,200 meters above sea level. It is also a historical place where Menelik II resided and built his palace, when he came from Ankober
and founded Addis Ababa. It is considered a sacred mountain and holds many monasteries. It is also notable as the location of a number of celebrated churches, including Saint Raguel and Saint Mary.
The mountain is densely covered by eucalyptus
trees planted during the reign of Emperor Menelik II; thus it is sometimes referred to as the "lung of Addis Ababa". The forest on the mountain is an important source of firewood to the city.
The Ethiopian Heritage Trust, a non-profit, non-governmental organization is working actively to change part of the mountain to its old state, a natural park. Entoto Natural Park is the northeastern rim of Addis Abeba on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Entoto covering an area of 1,300 hectors. It is situated at an altitude of 2,600 and 3,100 meters. Its annual average rainfall and temperature are 1200mm and 14°C respectively. The northern rim of the park serves as a watershed between Abay (Blue Nile
) and Awash
rivers.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, the capital of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Mount Entoto is part of the Entoto mountain chain
Entoto Mountains
The Entoto Mountains or Entoto Hills lie immediately north of Addis Ababa, in the central region of Ethiopia. They are the highest point of the city with views over the capital.-External links:*...
, reaching 3,200 meters above sea level. It is also a historical place where Menelik II resided and built his palace, when he came from Ankober
Ankober
Ankober is a town in central Ethiopia and one of the capitals of the former kingdom of Shewa. Located in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region, Ankober is perched on the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands 40 kilometers to the east of Debre Birhan, with a latitude and longitude of ,...
and founded Addis Ababa. It is considered a sacred mountain and holds many monasteries. It is also notable as the location of a number of celebrated churches, including Saint Raguel and Saint Mary.
The mountain is densely covered by eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
trees planted during the reign of Emperor Menelik II; thus it is sometimes referred to as the "lung of Addis Ababa". The forest on the mountain is an important source of firewood to the city.
The Ethiopian Heritage Trust, a non-profit, non-governmental organization is working actively to change part of the mountain to its old state, a natural park. Entoto Natural Park is the northeastern rim of Addis Abeba on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Entoto covering an area of 1,300 hectors. It is situated at an altitude of 2,600 and 3,100 meters. Its annual average rainfall and temperature are 1200mm and 14°C respectively. The northern rim of the park serves as a watershed between Abay (Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
) and Awash
Awash River
The Awash is a major river of Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes that begin with Lake Gargori and end with Lake Abbe on the border with Djibouti, some 100 kilometers from the head of the Gulf of Tadjoura...
rivers.