Difference between revisions of "Horn of Africa" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Nasa Horn.JPG|thumb|The Horn of Africa. NASA image]]
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[[Image:Africa-countries-horn.png|thumb|275px|Nations of the Horn of Africa.]]
  
The "Horn of Africa" is a large extension of land that protrudes from the eastern edge of the continent of Africa, lying between the Indian Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Aden to the north. Overall, the horn of Africa is estimated to consist of over 772,200 square mile, most of which boast a semi arid to arid climate. Despite difficult living conditions in many parts of the horn of Africa, recent estimations put the population of the region at about 90.2 million.  
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The '''Horn of Africa''' is a large extension of land that protrudes from the eastern edge of the continent of [[Africa]], lying between the [[Indian Ocean]] to the east and the [[Gulf of Aden]] to the north, jutting for hundreds of kilometers into the [[Arabian Sea]]. Overall, the Horn of Africa is estimated to consist of over 772,200 square miles, most of which boasts a semi–arid to arid climate. Despite difficult living conditions in many parts of the region, recent estimates put the population of the region at about 90.2 million.  
 
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{{toc}}
In a more general way, the term "Horn of Africa" is also used to define a political region that consists of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia. Many of these countries are also included in definitions of East Africa.
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In a more general way, the term "Horn of Africa" is also used to define a political region that consists of [[Djibouti]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Eritrea]], and [[Somalia]]. Some definitions also include the states of [[Kenya]], [[Sudan]], and [[Tanzania]]. The Horn of Africa is considered a subregion of the larger region known as [[East Africa]], and is sometimes referred to as the [[Somali Peninsula]].
  
 
==Geography and climate==
 
==Geography and climate==
[[Image:horn_of_africa.jpg|thumb|200px|The Horn of Africa as seen from the [[NASA]] [[Space Shuttle]] in May 1993. The orange and tan colors in this image indicate a largely arid to semiarid climate.]]
 
The Horn of Africa is almost [[:wikt:equidistant|equidistant]] from the [[Equator]] and the [[Tropic of Cancer]]. It consists chiefly of mountains uplifted through the formation of the [[Great Rift Valley]], a fissure in the Earth's [[crust (geology)|crust]] extending from [[Turkey]] to [[Mozambique]] and marking the separation of the African and Arabian [[plate tectonics|tectonic plate]]s. Most of the region is mountainous due to faults resulting from the Rift Valley, with the highest peaks in the [[Simien Mountains]] of northwestern Ethiopia. Extensive [[glacier]]s once covered the Simien and [[Bale Mountains]], but melted at the beginning of the [[Holocene]]. The mountains descend in a huge escarpment to the [[Red Sea]] and more steadily to the Indian Ocean. [[Socotra]] is a small island  in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia that is considered a part of Africa. Its size is 3,600 km² (1,390 mi²) and it is a territory of [[Yemen]], the southernmost country on the [[Arabian peninsula]].
 
  
The lowlands of the Horn are generally arid in spite of their proximity to the equator. This is because the winds of the tropical [[monsoon]]s that give seasonal rains to the [[Sahel]] and the [[Sudan (region)|Sudan]] blow from the west. Consequently, they lose their moisture upon reaching Djibouti and Somalia, with the result that most of the Horn receives little rainfall during the monsoon season. On the windward side in the west and center of Ethiopia, and the extreme south of Eritrea, monsoonal rainfall is heavy. In the mountains of Ethiopia, many areas receive over 2,000 [[millimetre|mm]] (78 [[inch|in]]) per year, and even [[Asmara]] receives an average of 570 mm (23 in). This rainfall is the sole source of water for many areas far from Ethiopia, most famously for [[Egypt]], which — in terms of rainfall — is the driest nation on Earth.
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The Horn of Africa is primarily distinguished through a low lying arid plain called the [[Ethiopian Highlands]], which is divided into two sections by the [[Rift Valley]]. The two distinct sections of the Ethiopian Highlands form an area previously rich in [[natural resource]]s. While this area once proved a great attraction for explorers looking for [[frankincense]] and [[myrrh]], the potential of the area has decreased in recent years. Only 5 percent of the original habitat of the Horn of Africa is intact, a fact which most [[environmentalism|environmental]] scientists attribute to overgrazing.
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[[Image:Nasa Horn.JPG|thumb|250px|left|The Horn of Africa. NASA image]]
  
In the winter, the northeasterly [[trade winds]] do not provide any moisture except in mountainous areas of northern Somalia, where rainfall in late autumn can produce annual totals as high as 500 mm (20 in). On the eastern coast, a strong [[upwelling]] and the fact that the winds blow ''parallel'' to the coast means annual rainfall can be as low as 51 mm (2 in).
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While the habitat and [[plant]] environment has changed dramatically from its original state, the Horn of Africa continues to contain a high level of native plant life. Currently, the Horn contains a large amount of [[heather]], [[erica grass]], and the small yellow flower commonly referred to as [[St. John's Wort]]. Unique to the region are the [[Bankoualé palm]] and the native cucumber trees of the [[Socotra Islands]].  
  
Temperatures on the Red Sea coast are some of the hottest in the world, typically around 41°C (106°F) in July and 32°C (90°F) in January. On the east coast, owing to the upwelling, they are somewhat, cooler but still hot. As elevation increases, temperatures decrease, so that at [[Asmara]], maxima are around 20°C (68°F), though [[frost]]s are frequent on cloudless nights. On the highest peaks of the Simien Mountains, however, temperatures rarely reach 14°C (57°F) and can be as low as –10°C (14°F) on cloudless nights.
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While much of the area is semi–arid or arid land, the [[Great Rift Valley|Rift Valley]] has punctuated the landscape with mountains and ranges. The most notable range in the region is the [[Simien range]], one of the largest mountain ranges in [[Africa]]. This range offers a wide variety of challenges for mountain climbers and hikers, including the daunting peak of [[Ras Dashen]]. Ras Dashen is the largest mountain peak in [[Ethiopia]], and the forth tallest in all of Africa. The range also remains [[snow]]–capped throughout the year, an unusual occurrence on the African continent.
  
==History==
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The Simien mountain range shelters much of the wildlife for the Horn of Africa, particularly predatory [[animal]]s and [[bird]]s that would not be able to survive in the plains. Notable inhabitants of the mountain range include the endangered Ethiopian [[wolf]] and roaming bands of [[Gelada baboons]]. Among species of birds, the Lamergeyer species of [[vulture]] often gains recognition for its wingspan, an impressive feature that can span almost 3 meters.
===Early history===
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[[Image:Grevys zebra.jpg|275px|thumb|[[Grevy's zebra]] ''(Equus grevyi)'']]
The [[Kingdom of Aksum]] (also known as "Axum") was a [[Sabean]] influenced state located in Ethiopia, Eritrea, northern Somalia and Yemen that thrived between the [[1st century|1st]] and [[7th century|7th]] centuries. Due to the Horn's strategic location, it has been used to restrict access to the [[Red Sea]] in the past. [[Image:Inhambane-dhow.JPG|thumb|right|Dhow - modern version of traditional trading ship]]
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While the mountain range provides shelter for endangered species, the plains offer a harsh existence for animals who choose to make their home outside of the protective mountain folds. Overall, the Horn of Africa is extremely rich with animal life, hosting a population of over 220 [[species]] of [[mammal]]s.
  
The region was also a source of biological resources during the [[Classical antiquity|Antiquity]]: The [[Ancient Egypt|ancient Egyptians]], [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] and [[Roman Empire|Roman]]s sent expeditions to the region for [[frankincense]], [[myrrh]], [[dragon's blood]] or [[cinnabar]] and took these commodities back along the [[Incense Route]]. Therefore the Romans called this region '''Regio Aromatica'''. It is believed to also contain the fabled Egyptian [[Land of Punt]].
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While many animals make the region their home, the landscape and harsh climate combine, creating a difficult environment for animals to prosper. Particularly threatened in the region is the [[antelope]] population, which includes such varieties as the [[Beira (antelope)|beira]], the [[dibatag]], the [[silver dikdik]], and the [[Speke’s gazelle]]. Unique to the region is the [[Grevy's zebra]], which is the largest of all the [[zebra]] species. In addition to animal and bird life, the Horn of Africa is home to proportionately more native [[reptile]]s than any other region on the continent. With over 285 species, the Horn also contains an extremely high number of native reptile species endemic to the region. Despite the high numbers of reptiles, however, [[amphibia]]ns are poorly represented in the animal life of the region.  
  
The Horn was also part of a network of ports that extended down the coast of Africa, from the Persian Gulf as part of a larger and ancient commerce route along the greater Indian Ocean rim.
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Access to a [[water]] source is a pressing motivation for plains wildlife, as much of the Horn of Africa receives very little annual [[rain]]fall. Exceptions to this rule are found in the west and center of Ethiopia and the most southern region of [[Eritrea]], where annual rainfall is boosted by heavy precipitation during the monsoon season. Many developed areas in the region rely on the runoff from the Simien mountain range as a source of water throughout the year.  
  
===Pre-Colonial History===
 
  
===Colonial History===
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==History==
 
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[[Image:horn_of_africa.jpg|thumb|250px|The Horn of Africa as seen from the [[NASA]] [[Space Shuttle]] in May 1993. The orange and tan colors in this image indicate a largely arid to semiarid climate.]]
===Post Colonial history===
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===Early history===
In recent decades, the Horn of Africa has been a region continuously in crisis. Ethiopia occupies a predominant position in the Horn because of its [[demographic]] importance: about 85% of the area's population live in this country. Large part of the Horn of Africa was colonialized by [[Italy]]: [[Eritrea]] (1880-1941), [[Italian Somaliland]] (1890-1960) and [[Ethiopia]] (1936-1941). [[Britain]] established in North Somalia ([[British Somaliland]]) and France in [[Djibouti]] ([[French Somaliland]]). Yet Ethiopia's history is largely marked by conflicts between [[Muslim]]s and [[Christian]]s for resources and living space, as well as between [[nationalism]] and [[Marxism-Leninism]] in the modern times. The rest of the region also faces continuous wars: a [[civil war]] erupted in [[Somalia]] in 1977, resulting in the country having had no functioning national government since 1991. [[Sudan]], with the [[Sudanese Civil War]], represents another important source of instability for the whole region. Conflicts have also occurred in Djibouti and Eritrea.
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The Horn of Africa became a major center for trade and commerce around 500 C.E., mainly due to the fact that much of the [[civilization]] of [[Yemen]] began to migrate to the [[Ethiopian Highlands]]. The new immigrants to the region formed a city called [[Axum]], which would later become the nexus for the kingdom of [[Ethiopia]]. Axum was primarily a trade city, whose location capitalized on the trade routes that led into the interior of [[Africa]]. A major commodity traded along these routes was [[ivory]], an [[elephant]] byproduct that was highly prized throughout the world for its aesthetic value and rarity.  
 
 
Moreover, the region is regularly stricken by [[natural disaster|natural catastrophe]]s, such as [[drought]]s or [[flood]] that hit [[rural]] areas particularly hard. As a result, the region has some of the world's highest levels of [[malnutrition]] and is continuously threatened with a major [[humanitarian crisis]]. Between 1982 and 1992, about two million people died in the Horn of Africa due to this combination of war and [[famine]].
 
 
 
The Horn of Africa, since 2002, has been a major focus of attention by the [[United States]], [[France]], [[Germany]], and eleven African nations regarding the [[War on Terrorism]].
 
 
 
==Culture and ethnicity==
 
[[Image:Africa-countries-horn.png|thumb|200px|Nations of the Horn of Africa.]]
 
The countries of the Horn of Africa are culturally linked together. Local people have been using the [[plow]] for cultivation and kept the Arabian [[dromedary]] as domestic animals for a long time.
 
Some important ethno-linguistic groups in the Horn of Africa are:
 
 
 
*In Djibouti: the [[Afar (ethnicity)|Afar]] (Danakil) and the [[Somali people|Somali]] (Issa)
 
  
*In Eritrea: the [[Bilen people|Bilen]], the [[Afar people|Afar]], the [[Hedareb people|Hedareb]] ([[Beni-Amer]]/[[Beja people|Beja]]), the [[Kunama people|Kunama]] (Baza), the [[Nara people|Nara]] (Nialetic), the [[Saho people|Saho]] (Irob), the [[Rashaida people|Rashaida]], the [[Tigre people|Tigre]], and the [[Tigray-Tigrinya people|Tigrinya]]. The [[Jeberti]]s are [[Muslim]] Tigrinyas who consider themselves as a separate ethnicity, but are not recognized by other sources.
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Axum became a major center of trade for the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]], who sought the riches of the African continent by forming a relationship with the Axumites. In fact, the Greeks were so involved with the elephant hunting trade in the Horn of Africa that the [[Greek language]] was occasionally used on official state documents. Once Axum had gained autonomy and was a formidable political power in its own right, it became center of a series of expansionary wars. The most famous of these is the [[War of the Elephant]], which is chronicled in the [[Koran]]. The power and authority of the kings of Ethiopia revolved around a claim made by the royal powers that all kings could trace their lineage back to the great [[Solomon|King Solomon]].  
  
*In Ethiopia: [[Amhara people|Amhara]]s, Afars, [[Agaw]] groups, [[Gurage]]s, [[Hammer people|Hamer]]s, [[Harar|Harari]]s (also Hadere or Adere), the Irob (Catholic Sahos) [[Oromo]]s, Saho, [[Sidama]]s, [[Somali people|Somali]], [[Tigray-Tigrinya people|Tigrayans]], as well as many other small groups (see also ethnicities listed at [[Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region]]) .
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Other important exports of the region included [[frankincense]] and [[myrrh]], both luxury goods that were highly valued in classical antiquity. Due to the high volume of fragrant substances available for sale in Axum and the surrounding region, the area was known to the Romans as the Regio Aromatica.  
  
*In Somalia: the [[Somali people|Somali]]
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During the seventh century C.E., [[Islam]] began to gain a major following in Ethiopia. While the introduction of Islam tied Ethiopia the the historic [[Middle East]], it also served to separate the area from predominantly [[Christian]] European trading empires. [[Religion|Religious]] tension between Islamic Ethiopians and Christian Europeans resulted in a heightened atmosphere of religious dissonance. The religious conflicts were resolved in 1630, when all foreign missionaries were expelled from Ethiopia. 
  
==Economy==
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In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Ethiopia did not have a centralized political structure. Many of the successors to the throne were not supported by large portions of the population due to the religious rift between Christians and Muslims in the area. To control the divided population, many of the Ethiopian rulers resorted to autocratic and dictatorial rule.
States of the region depend largely on a few key [[export]]s:
 
  
*Ethiopia: [[Coffee]] 80% of total exports.
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Possibly due to early expulsion of foreign [[missionary|missionaries]], Ethiopia was one of the few African nations to avoid [[Colonialism|colonization]] during the [[Scramble for Africa]]. While many African countries were colonized by European settlers in the early 20th century, Ethiopia was able to remain independent and autonomous. The only exception to Ethiopian self rule was a brief occupation by [[Italy]] between 1936 and 1941.
*Somalia: [[Banana]]s and [[livestock]] over 50% of total exports.
 
  
==Ecology==
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===Recent history===
[[Image:Grevys zebra.jpg|250px|left|thumb|[[Grevy's zebra]] (''Equus grevyi'')]]
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[[Image:Inhambane-dhow.JPG|thumb|275px|right|Dhow - modern version of traditional trading ship]]
The Horn of Africa is a [[UNESCO]] [[Biodiversity Hotspot]] and one of the two entirely arid ones. However the Horn of Africa suffers largely from [[overgrazing]] and only 5% of its original [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]] still remains. On Socotra, another great threat is the development of [[infrastructure]].
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In 1974 a military [[coup d'etat]] allowed Lieutenant Colonel [[Mengistu Haile Mariam]] to rise to power as the new head of state in Ethiopia. His 17-year rule was marked by extreme civil unrest and complete economic collapse. Many political analysts blame his failures as a leader on his attempts to realign the [[capitalism|capitalist]] Ethiopian economy along the lines of [[Marxism]].  
  
===Fauna===
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The [[Communism|Communist]] leadership of Ethiopia was eventually overthrown by the [[Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front]]. Complete collapse of the regime came in 1991, immediately followed by attempts to move Ethiopia towards a more Democratic political system. A major step toward this goal was completed in 1994, when the Ethiopian constitution went into effect and set up a system of bicameral leadership.  
About 220 [[mammal]]s are found in the Horn of Africa. Among threatened [[species]] of the region, we find several [[antelope]]s such as the [[Beira (antelope)|beira]], the [[dibatag]], the [[silver dikdik]] and the [[Speke’s gazelle]]. Other remarkable species include the [[Somali wild ass]], the [[desert warthog]], the [[Hamadryas Baboon]], the [[Somalia Gerbil|Somali pygmy gerbil]], the ammodile and the [[Gundi|Speke’s pectinator]]. The [[Grevy's zebra]] is the unique wild [[Equidae|equid]] of the region.
 
  
Some important [[bird]] species of the Horn are the [[Bulo Burti boubou]], the [[Golden-winged Grosbeak|golden-winged grosbeak]], the Warsangli [[linnet]], or the Djibouti [[francolin]].
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Despite the recent political strides in Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa as a whole has faced devastation in the recent years. Many of the religious conflicts in the region continue to remain unsolved, particularly the tensions between Christians and Muslims. In [[Somalia]] the religious tension was a major cause of a devastating [[civil war]] in 1977. Other prominent civil wars in the area include the [[Sudanese Civil War]] and conflicts in [[Djibouti]] and [[Eritrea]].  
  
The Horn of Africa holds more [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] [[reptile]]s than any other region in Africa, with over 285 species total (and about 90 species found exclusively in the region). Among endemic reptile genera, there are ''[[Haackgreerius]]'', ''[[Haemodracon]]'', ''Ditypophis'', ''Pachycalamus'' and ''Aeluroglena''. Half of these genera are uniquely found on Socotra. Unlike reptiles, [[amphibian]]s are poorly represented in the region.
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The natural environment has also made life challenging for the predominantly rural Horn of Africa. Major exports of the area, including [[coffee]], [[banana]]s, and livestock, have been threatened by recent droughts while floods have damaged the region's [[natural resource]]s. The environmental onslaught has forced much of the population into [[poverty]]. The Horn of Africa continues to have some of the world's highest malnutrition rates and is a constant focus for [[humanitarianism|humanitarian]] crusades.
  
There are about 100 species of [[freshwater]] [[fish]] in the Horn of Africa, about 10 of which are endemic. Among the endemic, we find the cave-dwelling Somali blind barb and the Somali [[cavefish]].
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==Related topics==
 
 
===Flora===
 
It is estimated that about 5,000 species of [[vascular plant]]s are found in the Horn, about half of which are endemic. Endemism is most developed in [[Socotra]] and Northern Somalia. The region has two endemic plant [[family (biology)|families]]: the [[Barbeyaceae]] and the [[Dirachmaceae]]. Among the other remarkable species, there are the cucumber tree found only on Socotra (''Dendrosicyos socotrana''), the Bankoualé palm, the [[Cordeauxia edulis|yeheb nut]], and the Somali [[cyclamen]].
 
 
 
==See also==
 
 
*[[Conflicts in the Horn of Africa]]
 
*[[Conflicts in the Horn of Africa]]
*[[Geography of Africa]]
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*[[Africa]]
*[[History of Djibouti]]
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*[[Djibouti]]
*[[History of Eritrea]]
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*[[Eritrea]]
*[[History of Ethiopia]]
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*[[Ethiopia]]
*[[History of Somalia]]
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*[[Somalia]]
 
*[[Land of Punt]]
 
*[[Land of Punt]]
 
*''Compare:'' [[Cape Horn]], the southernmost point of [[South America]]
 
*''Compare:'' [[Cape Horn]], the southernmost point of [[South America]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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;Print sources
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* Gray, Richard, and David Birmingham. "Southern Ethiopia." ''Pre-Colonial African Trade, Essays on Trade in Central and Eastern Africa before 1900.'' London: Oxford University Press, 1970. ISBN 019215639X
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* Lewis, Brenda Ralph, ed. ''Great Civilizations.'' Parragon Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0752561413
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* Oliver, Roland, ed. "The Kingdom of Axum." ''The Dawn of African History.'' London: Oxford University Press, 1961.
 +
* Thompson, L. A., and J. Ferguson. "Eastern Africa and the Graeco-Roman World (To A.D. 641)." ''Africa in Classical Antiquity, Nine Studies.'' Ibadan, Nigeria: Ibadan University Press, 1969.
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* Woodward, Peter. ''The Horn of Africa: Politics and International Relations.'' New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2003. ISBN 1860648703
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;Online sources
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* Conservation International. [http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/horn_africa/ Horn of Africa]. Biodiversity Hotspots. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
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* Laszlo, Cseh. [http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/275215/simien-mountain.html Simien Mountain]. SummitPost.org. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
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* United States Institute of Peace. [http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr113.html Terrorism in the Horn of Africa]. Special Report No. 113 (January 2004). Retrieved October 18, 2007.
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* Wild Frontiers. [http://www.wildfrontiers.com/ShowProduct.asp?ProdID=24 Ethiopia Northern Historical Route and Simien Mountains Trek]. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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All links retrieved January 14, 2018.
 +
 
*[http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/33/index.html History of the Horn of Africa]
 
*[http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/33/index.html History of the Horn of Africa]
*[http://www.hananews.org/ Horn of Africa News Agency]
 
*[http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/at0715_full.html WWF- Somali Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets]
 
*[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/horn_africa/ Horn of Africa Biodiversity Hotspot]
 
 
*[http://www.awdconservancy.org/ African Wild Dog Conservancy's Biodiversity Hotspots Page]  
 
*[http://www.awdconservancy.org/ African Wild Dog Conservancy's Biodiversity Hotspots Page]  
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/dj.html CIA World Factbook: Djibouti]
 
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/er.html CIA World Factbook: Eritrea]
 
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html CIA World Factbook: Ethiopia]
 
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/so.html CIA World Factbook: Somalia]
 
*[http://www.unicef.org/childalert/hornofafrica/ A 'Child Alert' issued by UNICEF for the Horn of Africa]
 
*[http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/8-4-2005-74197.asp Yemen Horn of Africa Link]
 
*[http://www.hoa.centcom.mil Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Official Website]
 
  
==References==
 
*Gray, Richard and David Birmingham. ''Pre-Colonial African Trade, Essays on Trade in Central and Eastern Africa before 1900''. "Southern Ethiopia" Oxford University Press:1970. London, England. ISBN 019215639X
 
*Oliver, Roland ed. ''The Dawn of African History''."The Kingdom of Axum". Oxford University Press:1961. London, England.
 
*Thompson, L.A. and J. Ferguson ''Africa in Classical Antiquity, Nine Studies''. "Eastern Africa and the Graeco-Roman World (To A.D. 641)". Ibadan University Press:1969. Ibadan, Nigeria.
 
*Lewis, Brenda Ralph ed. ''Great Civilizations''. Parragon Publishing:2002. Bath, England. ISBN 0752561413
 
*Woodward, Peter. ''The Horn of Africa:Politics and International Relations'' Palgrave McMillan:2003. New York, New York. ISBN 1860648703
 
  
 
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{{Regions of the world}}
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[[Category:Geography]]
 
[[Category:Geography]]
 
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[[Category:Africa]]
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[[Category:Global regions]]

Revision as of 16:20, 25 January 2023

Nations of the Horn of Africa.

The Horn of Africa is a large extension of land that protrudes from the eastern edge of the continent of Africa, lying between the Indian Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Aden to the north, jutting for hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea. Overall, the Horn of Africa is estimated to consist of over 772,200 square miles, most of which boasts a semi–arid to arid climate. Despite difficult living conditions in many parts of the region, recent estimates put the population of the region at about 90.2 million.

In a more general way, the term "Horn of Africa" is also used to define a political region that consists of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia. Some definitions also include the states of Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania. The Horn of Africa is considered a subregion of the larger region known as East Africa, and is sometimes referred to as the Somali Peninsula.

Geography and climate

The Horn of Africa is primarily distinguished through a low lying arid plain called the Ethiopian Highlands, which is divided into two sections by the Rift Valley. The two distinct sections of the Ethiopian Highlands form an area previously rich in natural resources. While this area once proved a great attraction for explorers looking for frankincense and myrrh, the potential of the area has decreased in recent years. Only 5 percent of the original habitat of the Horn of Africa is intact, a fact which most environmental scientists attribute to overgrazing.

File:Nasa Horn.JPG
The Horn of Africa. NASA image

While the habitat and plant environment has changed dramatically from its original state, the Horn of Africa continues to contain a high level of native plant life. Currently, the Horn contains a large amount of heather, erica grass, and the small yellow flower commonly referred to as St. John's Wort. Unique to the region are the Bankoualé palm and the native cucumber trees of the Socotra Islands.

While much of the area is semi–arid or arid land, the Rift Valley has punctuated the landscape with mountains and ranges. The most notable range in the region is the Simien range, one of the largest mountain ranges in Africa. This range offers a wide variety of challenges for mountain climbers and hikers, including the daunting peak of Ras Dashen. Ras Dashen is the largest mountain peak in Ethiopia, and the forth tallest in all of Africa. The range also remains snow–capped throughout the year, an unusual occurrence on the African continent.

The Simien mountain range shelters much of the wildlife for the Horn of Africa, particularly predatory animals and birds that would not be able to survive in the plains. Notable inhabitants of the mountain range include the endangered Ethiopian wolf and roaming bands of Gelada baboons. Among species of birds, the Lamergeyer species of vulture often gains recognition for its wingspan, an impressive feature that can span almost 3 meters.

Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi)

While the mountain range provides shelter for endangered species, the plains offer a harsh existence for animals who choose to make their home outside of the protective mountain folds. Overall, the Horn of Africa is extremely rich with animal life, hosting a population of over 220 species of mammals.

While many animals make the region their home, the landscape and harsh climate combine, creating a difficult environment for animals to prosper. Particularly threatened in the region is the antelope population, which includes such varieties as the beira, the dibatag, the silver dikdik, and the Speke’s gazelle. Unique to the region is the Grevy's zebra, which is the largest of all the zebra species. In addition to animal and bird life, the Horn of Africa is home to proportionately more native reptiles than any other region on the continent. With over 285 species, the Horn also contains an extremely high number of native reptile species endemic to the region. Despite the high numbers of reptiles, however, amphibians are poorly represented in the animal life of the region.

Access to a water source is a pressing motivation for plains wildlife, as much of the Horn of Africa receives very little annual rainfall. Exceptions to this rule are found in the west and center of Ethiopia and the most southern region of Eritrea, where annual rainfall is boosted by heavy precipitation during the monsoon season. Many developed areas in the region rely on the runoff from the Simien mountain range as a source of water throughout the year.


History

The Horn of Africa as seen from the NASA Space Shuttle in May 1993. The orange and tan colors in this image indicate a largely arid to semiarid climate.

Early history

The Horn of Africa became a major center for trade and commerce around 500 C.E., mainly due to the fact that much of the civilization of Yemen began to migrate to the Ethiopian Highlands. The new immigrants to the region formed a city called Axum, which would later become the nexus for the kingdom of Ethiopia. Axum was primarily a trade city, whose location capitalized on the trade routes that led into the interior of Africa. A major commodity traded along these routes was ivory, an elephant byproduct that was highly prized throughout the world for its aesthetic value and rarity.

Axum became a major center of trade for the Greeks, who sought the riches of the African continent by forming a relationship with the Axumites. In fact, the Greeks were so involved with the elephant hunting trade in the Horn of Africa that the Greek language was occasionally used on official state documents. Once Axum had gained autonomy and was a formidable political power in its own right, it became center of a series of expansionary wars. The most famous of these is the War of the Elephant, which is chronicled in the Koran. The power and authority of the kings of Ethiopia revolved around a claim made by the royal powers that all kings could trace their lineage back to the great King Solomon.

Other important exports of the region included frankincense and myrrh, both luxury goods that were highly valued in classical antiquity. Due to the high volume of fragrant substances available for sale in Axum and the surrounding region, the area was known to the Romans as the Regio Aromatica.

During the seventh century C.E., Islam began to gain a major following in Ethiopia. While the introduction of Islam tied Ethiopia the the historic Middle East, it also served to separate the area from predominantly Christian European trading empires. Religious tension between Islamic Ethiopians and Christian Europeans resulted in a heightened atmosphere of religious dissonance. The religious conflicts were resolved in 1630, when all foreign missionaries were expelled from Ethiopia.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Ethiopia did not have a centralized political structure. Many of the successors to the throne were not supported by large portions of the population due to the religious rift between Christians and Muslims in the area. To control the divided population, many of the Ethiopian rulers resorted to autocratic and dictatorial rule.

Possibly due to early expulsion of foreign missionaries, Ethiopia was one of the few African nations to avoid colonization during the Scramble for Africa. While many African countries were colonized by European settlers in the early 20th century, Ethiopia was able to remain independent and autonomous. The only exception to Ethiopian self rule was a brief occupation by Italy between 1936 and 1941.

Recent history

Dhow - modern version of traditional trading ship

In 1974 a military coup d'etat allowed Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam to rise to power as the new head of state in Ethiopia. His 17-year rule was marked by extreme civil unrest and complete economic collapse. Many political analysts blame his failures as a leader on his attempts to realign the capitalist Ethiopian economy along the lines of Marxism.

The Communist leadership of Ethiopia was eventually overthrown by the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front. Complete collapse of the regime came in 1991, immediately followed by attempts to move Ethiopia towards a more Democratic political system. A major step toward this goal was completed in 1994, when the Ethiopian constitution went into effect and set up a system of bicameral leadership.

Despite the recent political strides in Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa as a whole has faced devastation in the recent years. Many of the religious conflicts in the region continue to remain unsolved, particularly the tensions between Christians and Muslims. In Somalia the religious tension was a major cause of a devastating civil war in 1977. Other prominent civil wars in the area include the Sudanese Civil War and conflicts in Djibouti and Eritrea.

The natural environment has also made life challenging for the predominantly rural Horn of Africa. Major exports of the area, including coffee, bananas, and livestock, have been threatened by recent droughts while floods have damaged the region's natural resources. The environmental onslaught has forced much of the population into poverty. The Horn of Africa continues to have some of the world's highest malnutrition rates and is a constant focus for humanitarian crusades.

Related topics

Sources and further reading

Print sources
  • Gray, Richard, and David Birmingham. "Southern Ethiopia." Pre-Colonial African Trade, Essays on Trade in Central and Eastern Africa before 1900. London: Oxford University Press, 1970. ISBN 019215639X
  • Lewis, Brenda Ralph, ed. Great Civilizations. Parragon Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0752561413
  • Oliver, Roland, ed. "The Kingdom of Axum." The Dawn of African History. London: Oxford University Press, 1961.
  • Thompson, L. A., and J. Ferguson. "Eastern Africa and the Graeco-Roman World (To A.D. 641)." Africa in Classical Antiquity, Nine Studies. Ibadan, Nigeria: Ibadan University Press, 1969.
  • Woodward, Peter. The Horn of Africa: Politics and International Relations. New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2003. ISBN 1860648703
Online sources

External links

All links retrieved January 14, 2018.


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