| Addis Ababa & Surrounding |
History of Addis AbabaAddis Ababa- the “new flower” is set at the foot of the Entoto Mountains. It is centrally located with in Ethiopia as a capital city should be. It is to here that all roads lead.The altitude varies from 3000 meters (9840 feet) at the top of Entoto to 2200 meters (6800 feet) at the foot of the city.The temperature ranges from 14 degree centigrade to 18 degree centigrade. 80% of the yearly rainfall occurs between mid- June and October during the big rains. National MuseumThe National Museum is the home of Lucy, “Dinkenesh” probably the most famous hominid skeleton in the world. Found in 1974 in Hadar on the banks of the Awash River, and given the new name Australopithecus Afarnses, she is, at over 3.5 million years, the oldest hominid yet discovered. The museum also contains an interesting collection of archaeology and artifacts from Ethiopian History, art and culture. Ethnological MuseumLocated in and operated by the Institute of Ethiopian studies of the Addis Ababa university, this is Ethiopia’s first and only Ethnological Museum exhibiting the physical environment and traditional artifacts of all the major ethnic groups (including Costumes, Jewellery , Traditional household goods, Farming implements, Military and Hunting weapons, Art, Musical instruments, both Christian and Islamic parchment manuscripts and icons). The building was once Emperor Haile Selassie’s palace, and so it offers the only opportunity to see how Ethiopian royalty used to live. The other sections of the former palace are now being used as the offices and library of the university and the Institute to Ethiopian Studies. However, the private rooms of the King and Queen have been preserved and are part of the Museum. Trinity CathedralTrinity Cathedral was built in 1941 and it is the largest and most magnificent of all modern churches in the country ornamented with carvings and mosaics and other artistic works. The paintings of the saints and the apostles on stained glasses could be seen. Menelik" MausoleumMenelik Mausoleum is situated in the enclaves of the old palace under Bata church. It was built in 1911 and houses the crypts of Emperor Menelik ll, his wife, Empress Taitu and his daughter, Empress Zauditu. The Mausoleum also yields numerous parchments, scrolls and other vernacular scripts. Africa HallThe Africa Hall is situated opposite the Grand palace. It has been the seat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The first African heads of state conference which brought the organization of African Unity (OAU) in to being, was held in this building in 1963 and you will find one of the finest works of Maitre Artist Laureate Afework Tekle, depicting the Africans of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow in their struggle for freedom and progress. Mount "Entoto"Mount Entoto is the best location to observe the panoramic view of Addis Ababa both by day and night. On the top of this hill, stands St. Mary’s church built in 1885 and Entoto Museum. "Merkato" (The Grand Market)The grand market (Merkato) is one of the biggest open markets of its kind in all Africa. In Merkato, one can find anything that money can buy; a great variety of agricultural, industrial, conspicuous handicraft and other intrinsic products are found. "AnwarMesgid" (The Grand Mosque)One of Merkato’s highly visible landmarks is the Grand Mosque ("Anwar Mesgid"). The Mosque was built by Haile Selassie as a show of his even handedness with the two main religions of his subjects.
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