Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia

Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia PDF

Author: Paolo Billi

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-03-23

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 9401780269

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This book provides a succinct but comprehensive presentation of key geomorphological locations and topics including information about geomorphological heritage and maps to visit the most important sites. Apart from often being remarkably scenic, landscapes reveal stories that often can be traced back in time tens of million years and include unique events. This is particularly true for Ethiopia where spectacular examples of different landforms are present. Its geomorphology varies from highlands, marked by high volcanoes and incised by deep river gorges, to the rift valley lakes endorheic systems and the below sea level lowlands with characteristic landscapes which are unique in the world. Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia highlights all these topics including essential information about geology and tectonic framework, past and present climate, hydrology, geographical regions and long-term geomorphological history. It is a highly informative book, providing insight for readers with an interest in geography and geomorphology.

Understanding Ethiopia

Understanding Ethiopia PDF

Author: Frances M. Williams

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-03-21

Total Pages: 343

ISBN-13: 331902180X

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Understanding Ethiopia is a detailed description of Ethiopia’s geological story and enables non-specialist readers to share the author’s thrill at gaining a deeper insight into the processes which produced, and continue to shape, this amazing country. Ethiopia’s spectacular landscapes, ranging from mountains over 4500m high to salt plains 150m below sea level, are a reflection of the geological processes that formed the country. Indeed, its history and the historical sites, for which it is renowned, are largely determined by geology. Readers learn why and how Ethiopia’s geology is both unique and dynamic, as here the earth’s crust is in the process of breaking apart.

Landscapes and Landforms of the Horn of Africa

Landscapes and Landforms of the Horn of Africa PDF

Author: Paolo Billi

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-09-30

Total Pages: 407

ISBN-13: 3031054873

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This book focuses on regions for which until now the geomorphology was very poorly studied and relatively unknown. Nevertheless, the landforms and landscapes of the Horn of Africa are highly attractive, diverse and in a few cases unique, since they span very different environments, from highland plateaus and mountains to lowlands (even below sea level) and coastlines with a high degree of diversity and from monsoon to arid climate conditions. The main topics addressed in the book include the links between the geological evolution and the current large scale geomorphology of the Horn of Africa; the large differences between the highlands and lowlands climate, river hydrology and their variation through time within a climate change perspective. This part of the world was home of the very first hominids. The landscape in which they lived and evolved throughout the Pleistocene is described in comparison with the arid and inhospitable, though immensely scenic, environment of today. Perennial and ephemeral rivers with very different morphology, processes, and hydrology drain the area, and, in combination with the past and recent uplift, substantially contributed to provide the region with peculiar landscapes and landforms. Long lasting weathering and erosion processes result in a typical inselberg landscape such as the Bur region, or the currently exposed flatland of old peneplain surfaces. Their changes through time, induced by both natural and anthropogenic factors, are addressed by a couple of case studies. Though the region has few inhabitants, they had to struggle to find their livelihood in a land that offers poor resources. This resulted in landscape change and land degradation. Examples of human impact on the landscape are presented at different scales. This book provides readers interested in geography and geomorphology with essential scientific and educational information on the Landscapes and Landforms of Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia through simple, though scientifically, rigorous texts illustrated with several color maps and photos. One main prerogative of this book is therefore to give an insight into a region of the world where, for geographical and historical constraints, geomorphological investigation was very limited, thus enriching its intrinsic informative value.

Living Terraces in Ethiopia

Living Terraces in Ethiopia PDF

Author: Elizabeth E. Watson

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13:

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Living Terraces is both an ethnographic and historical account of the terraces of Konso in southern Ethiopia. Terraced agricultural landscapes in Africa are remarkable feats of human engineering and social organization, enabling the conservation of soil and water and the cultivation of food. Indigenous terraced landscapes are all the morevaluable because they have been produced by the people themselves and maintained for several hundred years, evidencing a valuable degree of sustainability. Yet until this book, there have been few accounts of how such landscapesin Africa are produced and maintained over time. Taking a period of approximately a hundred years, Living Terraces is both an ethnography and history of the terraces of Konso in southern Ethiopia. It traces the way Konso agriculture and landscape has been produced and managed in close relationship with broader changes in Konso political and cultural lives. In shedding new light on the relationships between landscapes, livelihoods, culture and development, the book demonstrates the embeddedness of social institutions in areas of social, cultural, religious and political life, showing that social institutions cannot easily be abstracted, replicated or used instrumentallyfor development purposes. The result is a call for an approach to social institutions, so vital to development, which centralizes a study of culture, history and power in the analysis. ELIZABETH E. WATSON is a Lecturerin the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge

Geomorphology of Georgia

Geomorphology of Georgia PDF

Author: Levan Tielidze

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-05-19

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 3319777645

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the geomorphology of Georgia. It describes a country characterized by geological, geomorphological and geographical diversities, located in the Caucasus region at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. This book is based on the results of several years of geomorphological studies and research in Georgia, published for the first time in English, and covers a gap in research in the field of world regional geomorphology. The landscapes of Georgia consist of high glacial mountains, medium and high mountains with deeply fragmented features, narrow and deep gorges and canyons, seaside lowlands, volcanic cones, uplands and mountain ranges, intermountain plains, hollows and highlands. The peculiarity of the landscape greatly affects the natural conditions. In several chapters, this book describes the diversity of climate, hydrographic network, vegetation cover, soils, fauna, exogenic processes, natural and anthropogenic landscapes. This volume provides the readers with the opportunity to explore the variety of landscapes and landforms in this diverse and fascinating country through informative texts illustrated with many color maps and photographs. Geomorphology of Georgia appeals to scientists, scholars, teachers and any readers interested in geology, physical geography, geomorphology, tourism and environmental protection. It is a rich resource for field trips and a comprehensive guide for travelers interested in the geomorphology of Georgia.

Landscapes and Landforms of Italy

Landscapes and Landforms of Italy PDF

Author: Mauro Soldati

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-05-23

Total Pages: 539

ISBN-13: 3319261940

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The book deals with the most striking landscapes and landforms of Italy. Attention is given to landform diversity and landscape evolution through time which has been controlled by very diverse geological conditions and dramatic climate changes that have characterized the Italian peninsula and islands since the end of the last glaciation. In addition, various examples of human impact on the landscape are presented. Landscapes and Landforms of Italy contains more than thirty case studies of a multitude of Italian geographical landmarks. The topics and sites described in this book range from the Alpine glaciers to the Etna and Vesuvius volcanoes, taking into account the most representative fluvial, coastal, gravity-induced, karst and structural landscapes of the country. Chapters on the geomorphological landmarks of the cities of Rome and Venice are also included. The book provides the readers with the opportunity to explore the variety of Italian landscapes and landforms through informative texts illustrated with several color maps and photos. This book will be relevant to scientists, scholars and any readers interested in geology, physical geography, geomorphology, landscape tourism, geoheritage and environmental protection.

Landscapes and Landforms of Nigeria

Landscapes and Landforms of Nigeria PDF

Author: Adetoye Faniran

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-02-28

Total Pages: 291

ISBN-13: 3031179722

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The book deals with the most striking landscapes and landforms of Nigeria. Attention is paid to the diversity of geomorphic features found in the country, from the coast to the extreme north, approached geographically at the national, regional and local scales, with a view to highlight the combined influence of geological, climatic, biotic and anthropogenic influences, as well as geoheritage potentials. The topics and sites described range from the mainly depositional coastal lagoons and inlets, the most prominent of which is the oil rich Niger Delta, characterized by the mangrove and rain forest, both of which have been seriously modified by human impact; through the coastal lowlands and associated hill country, with derived, deciduous and dry forest vegetation; the very prominent Niger/Benue Trough and associated features; the savanna-semi desert covered high plains of the north and the Chad Basin, each of which features spectacular landscapes and landforms, including human-made forms such as cities and cityscapes. The book provides the readers with the opportunity to explore the variety of Nigerian landscapes and landforms through informative texts illustrated with color maps and photos: it will be relevant to scientists/scholars as well as others interested in the geology, physical geography, geomorphology, landscape, tourism and other geoheritage-related information about the country.

The Soils of Ethiopia

The Soils of Ethiopia PDF

Author: Sheleme Beyene

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-01-05

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 3031170121

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This book addresses Ethiopia's extremely rich soil diversity and resources, which have developed under various climatic conditions. Featuring contributions by a group of respected experts on Ethiopian soils and agriculture, it provides comprehensive information on the management approaches needed for sustainable soil utilization and conservation under such conditions and the attendant challenges. It offers a valuable resource for anyone interested in soils and agriculture in Ethiopia, but also in other African countries with similar climatic conditions. The book contains 13 chapters which illustrate the long history of knowledge and soil research; climate; geology and geomorphology; soil forming factors, processes, and classification; major soil types, their properties, fertility status, and management; land evaluation and land use planning; soils and society/industry; and future/emerging soil issues.

Geo-trekking in Ethiopia’s Tropical Mountains

Geo-trekking in Ethiopia’s Tropical Mountains PDF

Author: Jan Nyssen

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2019-07-09

Total Pages: 675

ISBN-13: 3030049558

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This book is based on over 150 scientific papers about the Dogu’a Tembien district in Ethiopia. To reach a broader public of people interested in geosites and human-environment interactions, the authors here add a geoguide about this mountain district in Ethiopia(13°30’ N, 39°10’ E; upto 2850 m high) which shows a varied lithology. A large team has carried out research in that district over the past 23 years, including long stays in the areas. Numerous viewpoints and geosites are only accessible on foot; hence the authors prepared the book as a trekking guide, which will enhance sustainable tourism in the same time. This edited work summarises the study results in the international literature into a comprehensive book, which comprises 35 thematic chapters, detailed description of 573 km of trekking routes to access the landscape and the most scenic excursion points, as well as the necessary logistical information. A state-of-the-art trekking map is included as a digital annex.