Oromia

The vast region of oromia covers an area of more than 350,000 square km (almost one-third of the country) and supports a correspondingly large population of over 32.2 million people. Roughly 85% of the regional population is Oromo, and another 10% Amhara. Aside from the 5% who still practise animist or other traditional religions, the regional split between Christian and Muslim is as good as even. The oflicial language of Oromifa is inscribed with Latin script rather than the Arabic characters used elsewhere in the country. With its mostly fertile soils, Oromia is the breadbasket of Ethiopia, producing more than half of the nationh agricultural crop, and it is also home to almost half of its large livestock. Geographically and climatically diverse, Oromia hosts many of Ethiopia's more alluring natural attractions, notably Bale and Awash national parks and the lakes of the Rift Valley and Bishoftu. It is rich in minerals, ranging from gold and platinum to iron ore and limestone. Oromia encircles and is currently governed from Addis Ababa (known as Finfine in Oromifa and sometimes signposted as such within the state). In the year 2000, the administration was oflicially moved to Adama(Nazret), but 2005 protests by the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization succeeded in moving the offices back to Addis.