Addis Ababa- New Flower
Addis Ababa is a city located in central Ethiopia, with a population of around 3,384,569 people. Its elevation is ~2,355m/~7,726ft.
The location of Addis Ababa was chosen as a place to live in by the Empress Taytu Betul, and the city was founded by the Emperor Menelik II in 1887. It has only been the capital of Ethiopia since the late 19th century; before it the capital was Entoto.
The name Addis Ababa means “New flower” in Amharic and was given this name by Empress Taytu Betul. In 1905, the Emperor Menelik imported a large number of eucalyptus trees, which he planted along the streets of the city – these are still visible today.
Today, Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. It is split into 10 subcities and 99 wards. Addis Ababa is also the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Ethiopia’s official airline, Ethiopian Airlines, has its main headquarters at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. From this airport you can fly to different places in Ethiopia, like Lalibela or Gondar, and also internationally. Addis Ababa is often referred to as the political capital of Africa because of its historical, diplomatic, and political significance for the continent.
Addis Ababa is rich in places to visit. Some of the notable buildings include St. George’s Cathedral, which was founded in 1896, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, which was once the largest Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral, and the burial site of the Emperor Haile Selassie, who was buried in November 2000. You can also visit the fossilised skeleton of Lucy, one of the earliest known hominids, and a plaster replica of her at the Ethiopian National Museum. In Amharic, Lucy is known as Dinkinesh which means “You are marvelous”.
Other things Addis Ababa has to offer is the Mercato market, the largest open air market in Africa, the Entoto Mountains,Africa Park, and Meskel Square. The Meskel Square is the place in which thousands gather annually on Meskerem 17th (September 27th in the Gregorian calendar), for the Meskel Festival. The Meskel Festival (Amharic:) is a festival with processions and celebrations. A burning pyramid is set in the centre of the square, and set alight by priests. The pyramid is kept alight until the morning, after the night celebrations have ended.
Addis Ababa University, founded in 1950, is home to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies and the Ethnological Museum.
