Agricultural fields sit atop the Ethiopian Plateau

Today’s Image of the Day comes from the NASA Earth Observatory and features a look at the agricultural fields that line the top of the Ethiopian Plateau. The photo was taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.

The Ethiopian Plateau measures roughly 8 kilometers in diameter and thanks to relatively high levels of seasonal rainfall, it can accommodate a wide range of crops. The land here is typically used to grow coffee, oilseeds, and grains such as wheat and sorghum.

Unfortunately, the area has experienced a particularly brutal drought in the past several years. According to a report from the U.S. Embassy, as many as 10 million people could be affected by food shortages.

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By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Source: NASA Earth Observatory