It is located in the scenic Horn of Africa, landlocked by Eritrea's 1993 secession. Addis Ababa is the capital and largest city. Over half of the country's terrain consists of a high plateau and mountains, with climate and vegetation varying according to elevation. Coffee originated in Ethiopia's Kaffa region. Other stable crops include teff, wheat, and barley.
Common animals are giraffes, lions, elephants, jackals, hyenas, and monkeys.
Issues include droughts, rapid population increases, unwise farming, and rampant unemployment. In the 7th century the Aksum kingdom declined but reasserted its authority in the 13th century, although Muslim invaders retained control of the coastal area and the southeast. Benito Mussolini invaded in 1935, and Marxism reigned into the 1990s. A new constitution became effective in December 1994, and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995. Economy Ethiopia remains one of the world's least developed countries.