Asmara
Capital of Eritrea, 64 km/40 mi southwest of the port of Massawa on the Red Sea and 2,300 m/7,546 ft above sea level; population (2002 est) 392,500. Products include beer, clothes, leather goods, cement, and textiles. The University of Asmara is here, together with a naval school, a
cathedral and many modern buildings. The population is half Christian and half Muslim.
History
Asmara succeeded Massawa as capital of the Italian colony of Eritrea in 1900, and was the base for the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. It was captured by Allied troops on 1 April 1941, and was under British administration from 1941 to 1952 when the federation of Eritrea and Ethiopia was formed. In 1974 unrest here precipitated the end of the Ethiopian Empire.How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
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