(Historic tidbits about Ethiopia on this date on July 1) --- On this date on July 1, 1937, the New York Times reported that an 800 mile highway linking Asmara to Addis Ababa today opened for testing its endurance during the big rains. The road was formally opened August 4. (Photo: Those Romans. This is a photograph of the road between Massawa and Asmara, which would ultimately have continued onward to Addis Abeba. According to the photographer, there was an actual gondola system that went from the Red Sea to Asmara, also completed in 1937. The photographer notes: Throughout the highway trip from Asmara to Massawa, the road danced with the Ropeway and the Railway. This is just one of many crossings. Notice the gondolas in the sky. A careful eye will reveal the cable. One of the pylons is visible at the center on the horizon. The lines run from the tower through the knob above the cars to the upper right hand corner of the pictures. The line ran from tower to tower all of the way from Massawa to Asmara. If I remember correctly, the line bridges this valley without support until it reaches the other side (going to the left). The photographer provides some measurements. It was the longest in the world with a distance of 71.8 km from Massawa to Asmara. The Gondolas had the capacity of 300 kg and travelled 9 km / hr. The photographer noted The Eritrean Ropeway, completed in 1937, ran 71.8 km from near Massawa to the south end of Asmara. This was the longest cableway ever. It covered a distance which was over twice the current one longest in the world which has less than 35 km in Lapland. It was rendered non-operational by the British removing the engines shortly after their victory at Keren in World War II. The assemblage stood for over twenty years and was still in very good condition in 1962 when I left. I understand from Don Tipton that it was tore down, except for a few towers near Massawa, by the time he returned in 1964.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:29:01 +0000
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