With a population anywhere between 2 and 4 million people depending on where you look, Addis Ababa is both the capital of Ethiopia and its largest city. It is not only the political and cultural centre of the ancient African country, but the city is also located at its geographic centre.

The name "Addis Ababa" means "New Flower" in Amharic and, unlike many other African capitals, its founding, growth and development are not rooted in colonization. It was proclaimed the new and permanent capital of the Ethiopian Empire in 1892 by Emperor Menelik II, who chose the site for its hot springs and potential for expansion.

Interestingly, when the growing city was stricken by shortages of wood for fuel and building materials in the 1920s, eucalyptus trees were imported from Australia and planted on every available plot of land in and around the city. Seeking to further the development of this new-found resource, Menelik ensured that seedlings were not only distributed at low prices, but also that lands planted with eucalyptus were exempt from taxation! This massive reforestation effort created a greenbelt around the city, giving it the colloquial name of "Eucalyptopolis" around 1925. By 1964, the eucalyptus greenbelt covered 45 square kilometres, and by 1969, 90% of the buildings in the city were constructed from eucalyptus wood.

Addis Ababa hosts the headquarters for the UN Economic Commision for Africa and the Organization of African Unity.