How long is the mouse cursor route in Addis Ababa?

The mouse cursor covers 15.7 km with 206 m of ascent and 213 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 106 minutes plus stops.

Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?

Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.

How accurate is the drawing?

The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 3.2 km east to west and 2.3 km north to south across Addis Ababa.

Where does the route start?

The start point is at 9.03173, 38.71677 — roughly 3.4 km west-north-west of the centre of Addis Ababa. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.

Ethiopia › Addis Ababa › GPS art route

Mouse cursor GPS Art Running Route in Addis Ababa — 15.7 km

A 15.7 km loop through Addis Ababa that draws a mouse cursor when you upload it to Strava. The line follows public streets and paths, climbs 206 m in total, and covers a footprint about 3.2 km wide by 2.3 km tall.

Navigate it in the app

Distance15.7 km

Elevation gain206 m

Elevation loss213 m

Estimated time106 min

DifficultyChallenging

Average gradient1.3%

Route map and elevation

Elevation profile

Loading elevation…

Along the line: 206 m of ascent and 213 m of descent across 15.7 km, an average gradient of 1.3%.

Start point: 9.03173, 38.71677 — about 3.4 km west-north-west of the centre of Addis Ababa. It is a closed loop, so any point on the line works as a start.

Kilometre by kilometre

Split	Heading	Elevation change	Range
km 1	Runs south	-34 m	2389–2422 m
km 2	Runs south-south-east	-11 m	2377–2389 m
km 3	Runs south-south-east	-1 m	2364–2377 m
km 4	Runs east-south-east	-20 m	2352–2378 m
km 5	Runs east-south-east	+5 m	2343–2361 m
km 6	Runs north	+17 m	2361–2378 m
km 7	Runs east-north-east	-2 m	2376–2389 m
km 8	Runs east-south-east	-19 m	2356–2376 m
km 9	Runs north	+14 m	2356–2373 m
km 10	Runs west-north-west	+32 m	2370–2403 m
km 11	Runs north-east	+25 m	2403–2427 m
km 12	Runs north-north-west	+27 m	2427–2455 m
km 13	Runs west	-9 m	2445–2455 m
km 14	Runs west	+7 m	2437–2452 m
km 15	Runs west-south-west	-41 m	2410–2452 m
km 15.7	Runs west-north-west	+4 m	2394–2415 m

Turn-by-turn outline

The 24 direction changes below are the ones that define the drawing. Hitting them accurately matters more than pace — the shape only reads well if the corners are sharp.

0.15 km — turn right, then continue west-south-west.
0.31 km — turn sharp left, then continue south-east.
0.67 km — turn sharp right, then continue south-west.
0.88 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
1.04 km — turn right, then continue south.
1.54 km — turn right, then continue south.
1.74 km — turn right, then continue east-south-east.
1.90 km — turn left, then continue south-south-east.
2.06 km — turn sharp left, then continue north.
2.20 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
2.50 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
2.62 km — turn right, then continue west-north-west.
2.83 km — turn left, then continue south-south-east.
2.98 km — turn left, then continue east-north-east.
3.11 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.
3.31 km — turn right, then continue east-north-east.
3.51 km — turn sharp left, then continue east.
3.67 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
3.80 km — turn right, then continue south-south-east.
3.95 km — turn left, then continue south-east.
4.17 km — turn left, then continue north.
4.29 km — turn sharp right, then continue south.
4.64 km — turn left, then continue east-south-east.
5.27 km — turn left, then continue north-north-east.

Difficulty and terrain

Challenging. About 13 m of climb per kilometre. Rolling terrain that rewards steady effort rather than even pacing.

Best months: October to February: average highs of 20–22°C and about 18 mm of rain a month (Open-Meteo historical archive 2020-2024).

How to run this shape

Download the GPX file with your subscription and load it onto your watch, or open it in the ShapeMiles app.
Start anywhere on the loop — beginning near a landmark makes the finish easier to find.
Keep GPS recording continuous. Pausing mid-run leaves straight lines that cut across the drawing.
Follow the corners precisely; short detours are what blur the shape.
Upload to Strava and the mouse cursor appears on your activity map.

Questions about this route

How long is the mouse cursor route in Addis Ababa?: The mouse cursor covers 15.7 km with 206 m of ascent and 213 m of descent. At a steady 6:00/km, allow about 106 minutes plus stops.
Do I need a paid plan to download the GPX?: Yes. The GPX file is included with a ShapeMiles subscription — sign in and subscribe to download it. The file works with Garmin, Coros, Suunto, Strava and any app that reads GPX, and your subscription also covers turn-by-turn navigation in the app and route generation for your own city. The map, climb figures and kilometre splits on this page are free to view; the interactive elevation profile is part of the subscription too.
How accurate is the drawing?: The track follows real, runnable streets and paths, so the shape is recognisable once uploaded to Strava. The drawing spans about 3.2 km east to west and 2.3 km north to south across Addis Ababa.
Where does the route start?: The start point is at 9.03173, 38.71677 — roughly 3.4 km west-north-west of the centre of Addis Ababa. The route is a loop, so you can begin anywhere along the line.