A view of the spectacular mountain ranges between Senbete and Kombolcha with a seasonal lake in the foreground. Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep. Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed a population of over 60 million people. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land..