| Afar region | |
 | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag   | |
| State | Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Capital | Semera |
| Surface | 96,707 km² |
| Inhabitants | 1.389.004 (2005 estimate) |
Afar region is a region in the northeast ofEthiopia.
To know
This area of the continent, the so-called Afar depression it is slowly separating in two directions. The area is therefore rendered incandescent by volcanic chains and frequent telluric phenomena. According to the scenario proposed by geologists, in the time span of a million years, the three phenomena of stretching with a gradual lowering of the crust, in addition to the flooding of the Red Sea, will convert the Afar into a new ocean.
Until today theErta Ale it is a real lava lake characterized by temperatures reaching 1,200 ° C. Another element that makes Afar inhospitable are the toxic vapors based on hydrocarbons.
Numerous fossil remains have been found in this area dating back to over 4 million years ago.
Geographical notes
It borders to the north with theEritrea, to the east with Djibouti and with the Somali region, to the south with the Oromia region and to the west with the regions of Bitter he was born in Tiger.
In the northern part the territory consists of the arid lowland of the depression of the Danakil. In the far north are the salt lakes of Karum (also called Asale lake) and Afrerà (also called Giulietti lake). To the south-east of Lake Karum is the active volcano Erta Leva which is part of the Erta Leva mountain range which reaches a maximum height of 1,031 meters with the Ale Bagu volcano. In the central-southern area flows the Auash river which, once it enters the territory of the Danakil depression, is lost in a series of salt lakes on the border with Djibouti.
The area is made incandescent by volcanic chains and frequent telluric phenomena. In 2005, a deep rift formed within days downstream of the outbreak of the Dabbahu volcano located in the north of the region. Crack formation is believed to be part of the recession process between the Arab plate and the two African plates (the Nubian and the Somali).
Up to now, Erta Ale is a real lava lake characterized by temperatures reaching 1200º Celsius. Another element that makes Afar inhospitable are the toxic vapors based on hydrocarbons.
Background
The region-state was established in 1995.
Since 2012, the area has been increasingly unstable as tensions between Ethiopia ed Eritrea they remain high after the Eritrean-Ethiopian war of 1998-2000 due to the definition of a clear border line. In 2018 there were several meetings between the political leaders of the two nations to ratify a peace agreement signed years earlier for real implementation.
On 16 September 2018 a Jeddah a peace treaty was signed that seems to have put an end to all kinds of hostilities between the two countries, which finally accepted the border line between the Afar region and Eritrea established in 2000, freed the prisoners of war and shot down the military barricades along the border. L'Saudi Arabia, which has economic interests in this region, has helped the peace between the two countries.
Spoken languages
Afar is the prevailing language in this region of the same name (90%) and is the language commonly used in the world of work. Other significantly spoken languages include theamharic (7%) and Tigrinya (1%).
Culture and traditions
Although the nation is predominantly Christian, 95% of the people in this region are devoted to Islam and only 5% are Christian.
The inhabitants of the area live in a very poor and inhospitable territory and use the saline residues of the floods as a means of commercial exchange.
Territories and tourist destinations
The region is divided into 5 administrative zones.
Urban centers
Other destinations
- Danakil (or Afar Depression or Afar Triangle) - Very hot desert area that includes the lowest point in Africa, Lake Assal, which is located at a height of -155 m above sea level. Afar and others is known to be one of the most prolific areas of hominid fossil finds.
- Auash National Park - The lower valley of the Auash is declared heritage ofUNESCO.
- Yangudi Rassa National Park - Born to protect the wild ass now extinct in the area. This desert terrain, also rich in savannah, is the habitat of many animals including zebras, kudus, cheetahs, leopards and jackals.
How to get
How to get around
What see
What to do
At the table
Safety
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Afar region
Commons contains images or other files on Afar region
