Entoto

Entoto is located northeast of Addis Ababa in the mountain of Entoto, whose summit reaches an altitude of 3,200 metres. Before the foundation of the capital, Emperor Menelik built a palace there following his departure from the town of Ankober. There are also several monasteries and churches, such as Sainte-Raguel and Sainte-Marie (Entoto Mariam), and the mountain itself is considered a holy place.

Covered by a vast forest of eucalyptus planted under the reigns of Menelik II and Hayle Sellassé I, Entoto is sometimes called the “lung of Addis Ababa”. This forest has long been a source of timber and, even today, it is a source of firewood.

The Ethiopian Space Science Society set up an astronomical observatory here in 2013.