A careful study of the Geography of Eritrea will be of immense help for tourists to know about the different land features, its climate and many important geographical facts. Eritrea is a n important country locate in the Horns of Africa on the extensive coastline of the Red Sea. Eritrea is quite an interesting place in East Africa with a diverse topographical feature and a rich culture which is heterogeneous mixture of the nine ethnic groups that compose the demography of the country.
Geography of Eritrea
Eritrea is quite a large country that shares its boundary with Sudan on the West and North West, Ethiopia in the south and Djibouti in the south east. The country has a high central plateau that rises up to 3000 meters above the sea level. The rest of the landmass comprises of a coastal plain, the western lowlands which is dry and desert area and the an archipelago comprising a group of some 300 islands.
The presence of a diverse land mass has had its effect on the varied climatic condition in the country. The highlands experience a cool and dry climate with short periodic rainfall. The lowlands and the coastal areas are comparatively warm and dry.
Some important Geographical about Eritrea
- Location: Eastern Africa bordering the Red Sea with neighbors like Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti sharing the borders in different directions.
- Map references: Africa
- Geographic Coordinates: 150 N, 390 E
- Total Area: 121,320 sq km
- Land Area: 121,320 sq km
- Comparative size: Slightly larger than Pennsylvania
- Land boundaries: 1626 km. Bordering Countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
- Coastline: 2234 km
- Climate: hot dry and desert type on the Red Sea coast, Cooler with short periods of rains in the highlands, semi arid in the western hills and the lowlands..
- Maritime Claims: territorial sea that extends to 12 nautical miles
- Terrain: it has an extension of north-south Ethiopian highlands, eastern side is the coastal desert plain, northwest is the hilly tracts and southwest is the rolling plians.
- Highest Elevation point: Soira at an altitude of 3018 meters
- Lowest Point: Kulul with Denakil at 75 meters.
- Major Natural Resources: gold, zinc, copper, salt, natural gas oil and fish
- Total Arable Land use: 4.78%
- Permanent crops: 0.03%
- Pastures: 95.19%
- Irrigated land: 210 sq km
- Environment hazards: droughts, locust swarms
The geography of Eritrea is quite fascinating and gives an idea that the country has a topography and the geographical condition ideally suited to explore the hills and the pristine beaches. The main cities of Eritrea, which are also popular tourist destinations are Asmara which is the capital, Massawa and Keren.
| 
