From where in Ethiopia can I see the Red Sea?

Question

Ethiopia is a landlocked country, however it's mostly high elevation (2000-2500m) and given that Eritrea seems to be narrow, I'm wondering if it's possible to see the Red Sea from Ethiopia. I'm assuming the dry air would aid in visibility. If it's possible, where would be a good spot to do that ?

Answer 1

Yes, but only in a few places is it possible, and only under exceptional conditions.

Modern Ethiopia is landlocked and does not border the Red Sea. However, the country's northeastern highlands descend toward the Afar Depression and the coast of Eritrea, where the Red Sea lies.

From some of the highest mountains in northern Ethiopia, especially near the Eritrean border, as you thought, a distant view of the Red Sea may be possible, but only on an exceptionally clear day. The sea is roughly 100 to 150 km (60 to 90 miles) from parts of the northern Ethiopian highlands. Because these mountains can exceed 3,000 to 4,000 meters (10,000 to 13,000 feet) in elevation, the curvature of the Earth does not completely prevent such long-distance views.

Historically, travelers in northern Ethiopia sometimes reported seeing "the sea" from high vantage points, though such accounts are difficult to verify.

Interestingly, before Eritrea became independent in 1993, Ethiopia did possess a Red Sea coastline, so many older maps show Ethiopia extending all the way to the sea.