Geography
The State of Eritrea is in Eastern Africa. It is bordered by the Red Sea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Asmara is the capital. Other cities include Keren, Massawa, and Assab.

The terrain consists of a high central plateau, western lowlands, dry coastal plain and over three hundred islands.

The climate of Eritrea is varied: temperate in the highlands and hot in the lowlands.

Environment
The territory of Eritrea includes over three hundred islands, many in the Dahlak Archipelago. Coral reefs are home to a variety of fish: butterfly fish, parrotfish and angelfish. Other sea creatures include dolphins, turtles and dugongs.

Semenawi Bahri, just outside Asmara, is known as Eritrea's Green Belt. Many species of birds can be found in Semenawi Bahri [park] such as doves, rails, starlings and sunbirds.

Animals in Eritrea are baboons, gazelles, jackals, monkeys, warthogs and wild cats.

Architecture
The architecture of Eritrea's urban areas reflects the foreign occupation of the country.

Many buildings in the port city of Massawa are constructed in Arab and Ottoman styles.

The capital has a large number of Italian Modernist buildings. The Historic Perimeter of Asmara and its Modernist Architecture was considered by UNESCO for designation as a World Heritage site.

In 2017 Asmara was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.

Population
The population of Eritrea was estimated at 5,502,030 in 2008.

Languages
Official languages are Tigrinya and Arabic. English is used in business and education. Other languages include Afar, Tigre and Kunama.

Religion
Many Eritreans are Christians and many are Muslims, some have animist beliefs.

Food
The staple food of Eritrea is spicy stew, either meat or vegetable. Curried lentils and porridges made from sorghum or chickpeas are eaten.

Meals are served with injera, an unleavened bread made from teff grain.

Italian pastas and pizzas are available in urban areas.

Vegetables include cabbages, cauliflowers, garlic, green beans, onions, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes.

Fruits are bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, papayas, peaches and watermelons.

Tea is a popular drink, sometimes served with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Coffee is grown. Beer and an alcoholic honey drink are produced locally.

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