Eritrea–Hot, dry desert strip along the Red Sea coast;is a multi-ethnic country, with nine recognized ethnic groups in its population of around six million. Eritrea has several species of mammals and a rich avifauna of 560 species of birds.Itis also home to an abundant amount of big game species. Its capital, Asmara, is knownfor its well-preserved colonial Italian modernist architecture.
During the Middle Ages, the Eritrea region was known asMedri Bahri("sea-land"). The nameEritreais derived from the ancient Greek name forRed Sea(Ἐρυθρὰ ΘάλασσαErythra Thalassa, based on the adjectiveἐρυθρόςerythros"red"). Together withDjibouti,Ethiopia, northernSomalia, and theRed Seacoast ofSudan,Eritrea is considered the most likely location of the land known to theAncient EgyptiansasPunt, whose first mention dates to the 25th century BC.