Hamedela (Ethiopia)
According to POLITICSEZINE, the village of Hamedela is located in the northeastern part of Ethiopia in the Danakil Desert near the border with Eritrea. In its vicinity is the lowest place on the African continent (116 m below sea level). Among other things, this is the hottest place on Earth in terms of average annual temperatures (the record average annual temperature is +34.4 degrees). The Danakil Desert surrounding the village is known for the fact that 25% of Africa’s active volcanoes are located here, because it is located within the East African Rift Zone, which was formed at the junction of lithospheric plates.
From Hamedela go to Dalol volcano, which is covered with a salt dome, the thickness of which reaches several kilometers. Volcanic magma does not come to the surface, but the gases evaporating from it, passing through the bowels of the earth, break through to the surface. As a result, salts, iron, sulfur and other elements settle on the dome of the volcano, forming bizarre formations of incredible colors. Here you will see small acidic lakes of bright green color, yellow-orange “crusts”, growths and cones and tiny geysers. In 1926, as a result of one of the eruptions of the Dalol volcano, an underground explosion occurred, which formed a crater on the surface of the earth. Dalol Crater is the only crater on Earth located below sea level (50 m below sea level).
Khamedela is known as the village of salt miners, because in its vicinity there is salt Lake Assale, where salt is mined. Parts of the lake that are not covered by water are occupied by salt layers, from which small tiles are chipped off and sent on camels for sale to other parts of Ethiopia and neighboring countries. Every day caravans consisting of hundreds of camels and donkeys leave from here on a 10-day journey to Mekele.
Harar (Ethiopia)
Harer is located in the eastern part of Ethiopia, 560 km from Addis Ababa at an altitude of 1885 m. According to various hypotheses, Harer was founded between the 7th and 11th centuries AD. It was a major trading center on the way between the Arabian Peninsula and the Somali Peninsula. In the 16th century, Harer was chosen as the capital of the vast Muslim sultanate – Adal, from which numerous military campaigns against the Christian Ethiopian empire were undertaken. Harar is considered the fourth most important holy city of Muslims after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. harer also known for its artisans: local craftsmen make fabrics, silver jewelry, weave baskets and are engaged in bookbinding.
The main attraction of Harar is the Old City. It is surrounded by ancient fortress walls of the 16th century, which have survived to this day. The center of the Old City is Feres Magala Square. Numerous narrow streets diverge from it in different directions, walking along which you can see about 90 mosques. Harar ‘s most famous mosque is the Great Mosque 16th century with two towers and a minaret. Every day at 19:00, wild hyenas come to the city gates of Fallan, fed by local residents since the 60s of the 20th century. Tourists are also offered to feed the hyenas.
The local residents of Harare are also interesting – Harari Muslims. They dress up in colorful clothes. The women of the Harari people make bizarre hairstyles, folding their hair in half and tying it in buns over their ears.
Not far from Harar is the Babil reserve, which was created to protect the gradually disappearing herd of elephants. Now the herd has about 300 elephants, in addition, in the reserve you can see the black-maned lion.
East of Harar, you can go to the city of Jijiga, where the Somalis live, and to Mount Kulibi. Mount Kulibi is a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Ethiopians, here is the tomb of the bearer of the good news – the Archangel Gabriel. The temple on this site was erected by the emperor’s father Haile Selassie at the beginning of the 20th century. Every year in July and January, many pilgrims arrive here.
Desse (Ethiopia)
Desse is one of the largest cities in Ethiopia. It is located in its northeastern part in the border region between the Danakil Desert and the Ethiopian Highlands. The city was founded in the late 19th century by Emperor Johannes IV.
In Dess itself, of the attractions, only the city museum is interesting, which contains artillery pieces used in the 90s of the 19th century under Emperor Menelik II, but the surroundings of the city are full of interesting objects. Northwest of Desseis Mount Amba Geshen, where from the time of the Aksumite kingdom until the 16th century there was a prison for all male imperial relatives. The men of the royal family were kept in captivity to prevent intra-dynastic warriors. It is also worth visiting a historical place – Mount Amba Alagiwhere in 1895 and in 1841 fierce battles took place between the armies of Ethiopia and Italy. In addition, in the vicinity of Desse are Lake Ashengi, which was formed during the Holocene period, and the picturesque mountain ranges of Abue-Meda and Bada.
