Landscape

We have been asked a number of times to describe the landscape here in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, we lack the appropriate Latin vocabulary to list off the scientific names of the plants near our home. But hopefully we can paint a general picture of the scenery in southwestern Ethiopia.

To start, we live at 7000 feet above sea level. In addition to making cake-baking a significant challenge, this elevation also has a significant tempering effect on the climate. So in spite of our proximity to the equator, the evenings (and sometimes even the days) are quite chilly. Also, due to the mountains, we have a long wet season. Even in the dry season rain is common so the mountains are blanketed year-round with an abundance of green and flowering plants—eucalyptus, banana, and coffee trees; fruiting and flowering vines which climb fences and homes; and fields of flowering bushes. Unfortunately, due to our elevation some of the fruiting trees (such as mangos) thrive here but do not succeed at producing much fruit. We do have some fruiting trees on our property though—lime, papaya,passion fruit, and coffee. Right now our avocado trees are producing baskets full of dark green treasures.

At one time this area was covered with old-growth rain forest. While many patches can still be found, much of the area is now being used for cultivation, and subsistence farming. The hillsides are now covered with patches of corn, wheat, tef (grain used for making injera), and false banana (used to make a starchy dish called cocho). The government is in the process of moving an increasing number of residents from the arid northern and eastern sections of Ethiopia to this more fertile zone. When re-locating these people, the government hasn’t been too creative with the names of the newly-formed towns. For example, our health officer Bezu’s family lives in a place whose name translates to “Number 4.” Predictably, it’s cushioned between “Number 3” and “Number 5”.

Numerous rivers and streams cross the landscape and we can walk to some beautiful waterfalls and interesting caves carved by water flow. This mountain range is an old one, and for the most part, the hills are gradual and rolling so that on a hike even the most strenuous climbs are relatively short-lived before a descent presents itself.

The weather changes quickly and afternoon thunderstorms can arrive in minutes. One section of our compound can be soaked with a downpour while the other half remains bone dry. The landscape is beautiful and dramatic and all-together different from anything you would find in the United States. But maybe the best way to illustrate this is to just share some pictures…