5 Facts about Ethiopia, a Country that was Never Colonised, Their Soldiers Fought Side by Side with Lions
Ethiopia joins an exclusive list of countries around the world that have never been colonised since their existence.
Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
The country located in the Horn of Africa along with Liberia are the only two on the African continent in that group.
Source: UGC
Apart from this fact, the East African country is home to many fascinating stories and histories.
Legit.ng highlights five facts about the country whose soldiers were said to have fought their enemies in the past side by side with dangerous animals as lions, bees, elephants and cheetahs.
1. Ethiopia was the first country to accept Islam as a religion
Ethiopia is said to be the first country in the world to embrace Islam as a religion.
Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with all major Ghana news
According to Mo Afrika Tours, Ethiopia was reported to have provided shelter to Prophet Muhammad, his family, and followers when they faced persecution from pagan Arabians.
At the moment, 35% of the country's population practice Islam.
2. Dallol in Ethiopia is the hottest inhabited place on earth
With an average temperature of 35°C (95°F), recorded between 1960 and 1966, Dallol in the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is the hottest inhabited place on planet earth, Absolute Ethiopia reports.
The average daily maximum temperature as at the periods of 1960 and 1966 when it was recorded stands at 41°C (106°F).
3. Over 80 languages are spoken in Ethiopia
The country Ethiopia is multi lingua with more than 80 languages spoken there.
Big Seven Travel reports that some of the languages spoken in Ethiopia include Oromo, Amharic, Somali and Tigrinya.
English is a language used for its educational systems.
4. Ethiopia has the longest existing lava lake
Dubbed locally as the Gateway to Hell, Ethiopia's Erta Ale Volcano is the longest existing lava lake in the world.
Absolute Ethiopia has it that the lake has been in existence since 1906. Known for its searing hot temperature, the volcano is one of the most active in the world.
5. Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia
Coffee widely consumed around the world today have its birth place in Ethiopia, Absolute Ethiopia reports.
While there is no universally accepted account about events leading to its discovery in Ethiopia, it is believed that coffee moved from there to other parts of the world through slave trading and other means.
Real reason Ethiopia is 7 years behind the rest of the world
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh previously reported why Ethiopia is 7 years behind the rest of the world.
It should be noted that while Ethiopia uses the Coptic calendar, what the rest of the world adopts is the Gregorian calendar, which has 365 days in a year and 366 days in a leap year.
According to Face2FaceAfrica, the difference in year numbering is believed to be because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church does not agree with the Roman Catholic Church about when Christ was born.
The Gregorian calendar is factored in the calculation of the year in which Jesus was born, while the Coptic calendar is factored in the calculation of the Annunciation (Jesus’s conception, not birth) arrived at by Egyptian monk-historian Annianus of Alexandria.
Source: YEN.com.gh
