Simien Mountains
Ethiopia is home to 80% of the land in Africa above 3,000m. Thus, the Simien Mountains, with the highest point in Ethiopia (Ras Dejen at 4,543m) is also known as ‘the roof of Africa.’
The Simien Mountains were formed prior to the creation of the Rift Valley, from lava outpourings between 40 and 25 million years ago during the Oligocene period. The volcano is believed to have spread over more than 5000m2 and resulted in a thick sequence of basaltic volcano some 3,000-3,500m thick that was deposited on 500m thick Precambrian crystalline basement.
The major part of the Simien Mountains consists of remnants of a Hawaiian-type shield volcano. The Kidus Yared peak is situated near the center of the shield volcano. Ras Dejen (4,543m), Bwahit (4,430m) and Silki (4,420m) were formed from the outer core of this ancient volcano.
Simien Mountains National Park, in northern Ethiopia is a spectacular landscape, where massive erosion over millions of years has created jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1,500 m. The park is of global significance for biodiversity conservation.
It is home to globally threatened species, including the iconic Walia ibex, a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada monkey and the Ethiopian wolf.
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