GEOGRAPHY
Eritrea is located in the
Horn of Africa and is bordered on the northeast and east by the
Red Sea, on the west and northwest by Sudan, on the south by Ethiopia,
and on the southeast by Djibouti. The country has a high central
plateau that varies from 1,800 to 3,000 meters (6,000-10,000 ft.)
above sea level. A coastal plain, western lowlands, and some 300
islands comprise the remainder of Eritrea's land mass. Eritrea
has no year-round rivers.
The climate is temperate in
the mountains and hot in the lowlands. Asmara, the capital, is
about 2,300 meters (7,500 ft.) above sea level. Maximum temperature
is 26o C (80o F). The weather is usually sunny and dry, with the
short or belg rains occurring February-April and the big or meher
rains beginning in late June and ending in mid-September.
Official Name: State
of Eritrea
Area: 125,000 sq. km. (48,000 sq. mi.); about
the size of Pennsylvania.
Cities: Capital--Asmara (est. pop. 435,000).
Other cities--Keren (57,000); Assab (28,000); Massawa (25,000);
Afabet (25,000); Tessenie (25,000); Mendefera (25,000); Dekemhare
(20,000); Adekeieh (15,000); Barentu (15,000); Ghinda (15,000).
Terrain: Central highlands straddle escarpment
associated with Rift Valley, dry coastal plains, and western lowlands.
Climate: Temperate in the highlands; hot in the
lowlands.
