Eritrea

Landscape

Eritrea’s central highlands descend eastward toward a hot, dry Red Sea coast. To the west, the terrain becomes lower hills and plains. The change in altitude creates substantial differences between the highland interior and the coastal lowlands.

The long coastline includes the Dahlak Archipelago and other offshore islands. These marine landscapes contrast with the rugged escarpments inland. Coastal desert, highland valleys and western lowlands should therefore be understood as distinct geographic regions.

Climate & seasons

The Red Sea coast is hot and arid. The central highlands are cooler and receive more seasonal rain, while the western lowlands are generally semiarid.

Climate & land use

The highlands are generally cooler and receive more rain than the Red Sea coast. Farming and settlement reflect these differences in water supply and elevation. In dry lowland areas, the timing of seasonal rain is especially important for grazing.