ntroduction
Asmara is the capital and largest city of the East African country of Eritrea. Located on the northern tip of the Ethiopian Plateau, it lies at an elevation of 7,628 feet (2,325 meters). The population is about half Christian and half Muslim.
Cityscape
Photograph:Among the houses of worship in Asmara, Eritrea, are two Ethiopian Orthodox churches.
* Among the houses of worship in Asmara, Eritrea, are two Ethiopian Orthodox churches.
Asmara is a well-planned city. A Roman Catholic cathedral, built in 1922, and the Grand Mosque, built in 1937, stand on the palm-lined main street. St. Mary's, the city's main Ethiopian Orthodox church, is also notable. A former colonial palace built during the time when Italy controlled Eritrea now houses a national museum. The city is also the site of Asmara University, a public library, and many secondary schools.
Economy
Asmara is an important agricultural market and hide-tanning center. The city makes textiles, footwear, and soft drinks. Asmara lies on the Eritrean railway and is a major road junction. It also has an international airport. The city is connected by road, railroad, and air to Massawa, a port on the Red Sea.
History
Asmara was a village of the Tigre people until the late 19th century. In 1900 it became the capital of the Italian colony of Eritrea. When Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Asmara was the main base for the attack. Afterward, the town rapidly grew as the leading city in Italian East Africa. The British controlled Asmara from 1941 to 1952, when Eritrea and Ethiopia were joined in a federation. In 1993, after three decades of fighting the Ethiopian government, Eritrea won its independence. Asmara became the country's capital. Population (1992 estimate), 400,000.
