My World Factbook
(Learn more about the new, improved World Factbook)
Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
Geography
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Area: 
total: 1,104,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
27
land: 1 million sq km
water: 104,300 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
total: 5,328 km
border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
Current Weather
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,533 m
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
arable land: 10.01%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 89.34% (2005)
2,900 sq km (2003)
110 cu km (1987)
total: 5.56 cu km/yr (6%/0%/94%)
per capita: 72 cu m/yr (2002)
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
volcanism: Ethiopia experiences volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (elev. 613 m, 2,011 ft), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country’s most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, causing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T’ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
