Course Outline

Course Title: Geography of Ethiopia and The Horn

Course Code: GeES1011

Academic Year: 2022

Year I, Semester I

Credit hour: 3

Instructor Name: Emishaw G.

Course Description,

The Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn is intended to familiarize students with the basic
geographic concepts particularly in relation to Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. It is also
meant to provide students a sense of place and time (geographic literacy) that are pivotal in
producing knowledgeable and competent citizens who are able to comprehend and analyse
spatial problems and contribute to their solutions. To be geographically illiterate is to deny
oneself not only the ability to comprehend spatial problems but also the opportunity to
contribute meaningfully to the development of policies for dealing with them. As such, the
course provides an opportunity for the reader to understand the implications of the location,
shape and size of Ethiopia, as well as the country’s physical and human resources diversity
and abundance on its socioeconomic development.

The course consists of four parts. The first part provides a brief description on the location,
shape and size of Ethiopia as well as basic skills of reading maps. Part two introduces the
physical background and natural resource endowment of Ethiopia and the Horn which
includes its geology and mineral resources, topography, climate, drainage and water
resources, soil, fauna and flora. The third part of the course focuses on the demographic
characteristics of the country and its implications on economic development. The fourth
component of the course offers treatment of the various economic activities of Ethiopia and
the Horn which include agriculture, manufacturing and the service sectors. Moreover,
Ethiopia in a globalizing world is treated in the perspectives of the pros and cons of
globalization on its natural resources, population and socio-economic conditions. Course
presentation shall be in the form of lecture, reading assignments and producing/presenting
term papers on issues related to the location, shape and size of Ethiopia as well as basic
skills of reading maps, introduces the physical background and natural resource endowment
of Ethiopia and the Horn, focuses on the demographic characteristics of the country and its

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implications on economic development and describes the various economic activities of
Ethiopia and the Horn

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course students will be able to:

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1. Geography: Definition, Scope and Themes

1.1.1. Meaning of Geography

1.1.2. The Scope, Approaches and Themes of Geography

1.2. Location, Shape and Size of Ethiopia and the Horn

1.2.1. Location of Ethiopia

1.2.2. Size of Ethiopia

1.2.3. The shape of Ethiopia and its Implication

1.3. Basic Skills of Map Reading

Basic Principles of Map Reading

CHAPTER TWO

THE GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

2.1. The Geologic Processes: Endogenic and Exogenic Forces

2.2. The Geological Time Scale and Age Dating Techniques

2.2.1. Age Dating Techniques

2.3. Geological Processes and the Resulting Landforms of Ethiopia and the Horn

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2.3.1. The Precambrian Era Geologic Processes (4.5 billion - 600 million years ago)

2.3.2. The Paleozoic Era Geologic Processes (600 million - 225 million years ago)

2.3.3. The Mesozoic Era Geologic Processes (225-70 million years ago)

2.3.4. The Cenozoic Era Geologic Processes (70million years ago - Present)

2.4. Rock and Mineral Resources of Ethiopia

2.4.1. Brief Facts and Current State of Main Minerals in Ethiopia

2.4.2. Mineral Potential Sites of Ethiopia

CHAPTER THREE

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

3.1. The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia

3.1.1. The Western Highlands and Lowlands

3.1.2. The Southeastern Highlands and Lowlands

3.1.3. The Rift Valley

3.2. The Impacts of Relief on Biophysical and Socioeconomic Conditions

CHAPTER FOUR

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

4.1. Major Drainage System of Ethiopia

4.2. Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and Sub-Surface Water

4.2.1. The Ethiopian Rivers

4.2.2. The Ethiopian Lakes

4.2.3. Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource of Ethiopia

4.3. Water Resources Potentials and Development in Ethiopia

CHAPTER FIVE

THE CLIMATE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

5.1. Elements and Controls of Weather and Climate

5.1.1. Controls of Weather and Climate

5.2. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Distribution of Temperature and Rainfall in Ethiopia

5.2.1. Spatiotemporal Distribution of Temperature

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5.3. Climate Change/Global Warming: Causes, Consequences and Response Mechanisms

5.3.1. Current Trends of Climate in Ethiopia

5.3.2. Causes of Climate Change

5.3.3. Consequences of Climate Change

5.3.4. Climate Response Mechanisms

CHAPTER SIX

SOILS, NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES OF ETHIOPIA AND THE

6.1. Ethiopian Soils: Types, Degradation and Conservation

6.1.2. Major Soil Types in Ethiopia

6.1.2. Soil Degradation

6.1.3. Soil Erosion Control Measures

6.2. Natural Vegetation of Ethiopia

6.2.1. Natural vegetation Degradation

6.2.2. Natural Vegetation Conservation

6.3. Wild Life/wild animals in Ethiopia

6.3.1. Wildlife Conservation

6.3.2. Challenges of wildlife conservation in Ethiopia

CHAPTER SEVEN

POPULATION OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

7.1 Population Data: Uses and Sources

7.2 Population Dynamics: Fertility, Mortality and Migration

7.2.1. Demographic Measurements

7.2.2. Levels and trends in Fertility and Mortality rates in Ethiopia

7.2.3. Migration in Ethiopia and the Horn

7.3. Population Distribution in Ethiopia

7.3.1. Measures of Population Distribution

7.3.2. Factors Affecting Population Distribution in Ethiopia

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7.4 Socio-cultural Aspects of Ethiopian Population: Education, Health and Languages

7.4.1. Education

7.4.2. Health

7.4.3. Languages Families and Languages of Ethiopia

7.5. Settlement Types and Patterns

7.5.1. Types of Settlement

CHAPTER EIGHT

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN ETHIOPIA

8.1 Mining Activity in Ethiopia

8.2 Forestry

8.3 Fishery

8.4 Agriculture in Ethiopia

8.4.1 Contributions, potentials and characteristics of agriculture in Ethiopia

8.4.2. Agriculture Systems in Ethiopia

8.4.3. Major problems of Ethiopian agriculture

8.5 Manufacturing Industry in Ethiopia

8.5.1. Types and characteristics of manufacturing

8.5.2. The Spatial Distribution of Manufacturing Industries in Ethiopia

8.6 The Service Sector in Ethiopia

8.6.1. Transportation and communication in Ethiopia: types, roles and characteristics

8.6.2. Tourism in Ethiopia: Types, major tourist attraction sites, challenges and prospects

Evaluation modalities (Subject to change)

Classroom participation and attendance 5%

Group Assignment and presentation 20%

Midterm exam 25%

Final exam 50%

Total 100%

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 Timetable Building and Rooms
S Th 7&8 (9:20 to SE03F2-01
Sectio 11:05), Fr 3 (4:20 to
ns 5:10)
T Th 3&4 (4:20 to SE03F2-01
6:05), Fr7 (9:20 to
10:10)
U Th 5&6 ( 7:30 to SE03F2-07
9:15), Fr 4 (5:15 to
6:05)