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60-657: For much of the year, it is little more than a stream. However, during the rainy season (generally July to October), the Atbarah rises some 18 ft (5 m) above its normal level. At this time, it forms a formidable barrier between the northern and central districts of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Besides the Tekezé, other important tributaries of the Atbarah include the Shinfa River which rises west of Lake Tana, and

120-651: A $ 1.9 billion twin dam project about 20 km upstream from the confluence of the Upper Atbara and Setit rivers, the Rumela and Burdana dams , began in 2011 and was inaugurated by President Omar al-Bashir in February 2017. Average monthly flow (1912–1982) of the Atbarah measured approximately 25 km upstream of its mouth, measured in m/s: Amhara Region The Amhara Region ( Amharic : አማራ ክልል , romanized :  Åmara Kilil ), officially

180-552: A hominid jawbone in the Ledi-Geraru region of Afar. Scientists estimated that the fossil dates to around 2.8 million years ago, which is 400,000 years before the next oldest hominid fossil remains. In 2015, a hominin jawbone and teeth was discovered in the Afar region. Scientists believe that the bones belonged to a previously undiscovered ancestor. The new species was named Australopithecus deyiremeda , meaning "close relative" in

240-448: A household, with urban households having on average 3.3 and rural households 4.5 people. The projected population as of 2022 was 32,134,988. In the previous census, conducted in 1994, the region's population was reported to be 13,834,297 of whom 6,947,546 were men and 6,886,751 women; urban inhabitants numbered 1,265,315 or 9.15% of the population. According to the CSA, as of 2004 , 28% of

300-400: A population of 17,221,976. 8,641,580 were men and 8,580,396 women; urban inhabitants number 2,112,595 or 12.27% of the population. With an estimated area of 154,708.96 km (59,733.46 sq mi), this region has an estimated density of 108.2 people per square kilometer. For the entire region, 3,983,768 households were counted, which results in an average for the region of 4.3 persons to

360-575: A skeleton, which dates to around 4.4 million years ago. Named Ardi , it is a form of the species Ardipithecus ramidus . The specimen is a distant cousin of the Australopithecus afarensis , Lucy's species. In June 2010, the oldest direct evidence of stone tool manufacture was found in the Afar region and attributed to Australopithecus afarensis . In 2013, a graduate student from the Arizona State University discovered

420-472: A slightly different etymology of Astaboras, stating that "in the language of the local people" the name means "water coming from the shades below" ( N.H. 5.10). In April 1898 a major battle was fought beside the river during the Anglo-Egyptian invasion of Sudan 1896–1899 between Mahdist forces and an Anglo-Egyptian Army under the command of Lord Kitchener , which resulted in the destruction of

480-583: Is 94 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is greater than the nationwide average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants’ first month of life. At 91.47% of the local population, the region is predominantly inhabited by people from the Semitic -speaking Amhara ethnic group. Most other residents hail from other Afro-Asiatic language communities, including the Agaw /Awi, Oromo , Beta Israel , Qemant , Agaw / Kamyr and Argobba . Gumuz

540-594: Is Alemnew Mekonnen. The other offices in the executive branch cabinet are the Regional Health Bureau (Dr. Abebaw Gebeyehu), Educational Bureau (Yilikal Kefyalew), and 20 other officials. There are three levels of the Amhara state judiciary . The lowest level is the court of common pleas: each woreda maintains its own constitutionally mandated court of common pleas, which maintain jurisdiction over all justiciable matters. The intermediate-level court system

600-710: Is another community located in parts in Amhara Region, speaking a Nilo-Saharan language . Religion in Amhara Region (2007) The predominant religion of the Amhara for centuries has been Christianity, with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church playing a central role in the culture of the Amhara region. According to the 2007 census, 82.5% of the population of the Amhara region (which is 91.2% Amhara) were Ethiopian Orthodox; 17.2% were Muslim, and 0.2% were Protestant (" P'ent'ay "). The Ethiopian Orthodox Church maintains close links with

660-876: Is at maximum volume (during the rainy season from June to September), it supplies about two-thirds of the water of the Nile proper. Until the 1970 completion of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt, the Blue Nile, together with the Atbara River to its north (which also flows out of the Ethiopian Highlands), caused annual Nile floods that contributed to the fertility of the Nile Valley. This aided the rise of ancient Egyptian civilization, which in turn enabled

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720-596: Is composed of the executive branch, led by the President; the legislative branch, which comprises the State Council; and the judicial branch, which is led by the state Supreme Court. The executive branch is headed by the Chief Administrator of Amhara Region. The current Chief Administrator is Yilikal Kefale, a Prosperity Party member who was elected on 30 September 2021. The current vice president

780-499: Is endowed with natural and geographic wonders and ecosystems. The region contains Ethiopia's largest inland body of water Lake Tana , which is the source of the Blue Nile river. In 2015 Lake Tana was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its enormous biodiversity, and national and international importance. The Semien Mountains National Park has been designated as one of the first natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in

840-537: Is home to 6 lakes: Lake Tana , Lake Hayq , Lake Hardibo , Lake Ashenge , Lake zengena and Lake Tirba. According to the Ethiopian government website, the Amhara Highlands receive 80% of Ethiopia ’s total annual rainfall of and are the country's most fertile and climatically hospitable region. Lake Tana , in the Amhara Region, is the source of the Blue Nile —at Bahir Dar . When the Blue Nile's flow

900-552: Is home to endangered species found nowhere else in the world, examples of endemic fauna include the iconic walia ibex , the gelada baboon , and the Ethiopian wolf (or Simien fox) among others. The wide range of altitudes has given the country a variety of ecologically distinct areas, leading to the evolution of endemic species in ecological isolation. Amhara region also leads in cultural world heritage sites in Ethiopia, with

960-861: Is home to peculiar wildlife, which notably include the African wild ass , Grevy's zebra , wild fox, wild cat, cheetah, and ostrich. These wild animals are found in the region's national parks. Because the region's tourism development is still in a poor state there are only two lodges in Awash National Park . The CSA estimated in 2005 that farmers in the Afar Regional State had a total of 327,370 cattle (representing 0.84% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 196,390 sheep (1.13%), 483,780 goats (3.73%), 200 mules (0.14%), 12,270 asses (0.49%), 99,830 camels (21.85%), 38,320 poultry of all species (0.12%), and 810 beehives (less than 0.1%). The CSA estimated on

1020-655: Is located in the north of the region. It has the lowest point in Ethiopia and one of the lowest in Africa. The southern part of the region consists of the valley of the Awash River , which empties into a string of lakes along the Djibouti–Ethiopia border . Other notable landmarks include the Awash National Park . Based on the 2017 projections by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA),

1080-612: Is normal, while in the lowlands two are possible. Cattle, sheep, and goats are also raised. The CSA of Ethiopia estimated in 2005 that farmers in Amhara had a total of 9,694,800 head of cattle (representing 25% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 6,390,800 sheep (36.7%), 4,101,770 goats (31.6%), 257,320 horses (17%), 8,900 mules (6%), 1,400,030 asses (55.9%), 14,270 camels (3.12%), 8,442,240 poultry of all species (27.3%), and 919,450 beehives (21.1%). There are ten public universities in Amhara Region The government of Amhara

1140-422: Is subdivided into administrative zones. There are 11 zones and 67 woredas. The Aholalo is a festival celebrated in the northern region of Ethiopia. The festival is traditionally celebrated in the province of Wollo. Afar Region The Afar Region ( / ˈ ɑː f ɑːr / ; Afar : Qafar Rakaakayak ; Amharic : ዓፋር ክልል ), formerly known as Region 2 , is a regional state in northeastern Ethiopia and

1200-519: Is the district court system. Four courts of appeals exist, each retaining jurisdiction over appeals from common pleas, municipal, and county courts in an administrative zone. A case heard in this system is decided by a three-judge panel, and each judge is elected. The highest-ranking court, the Amhara Supreme Court, is Amhara's "court of last resort". A seven-justice panel composes the court, which, by its own discretion, hears appeals from

1260-680: The Amhara National Regional State ( Amharic : የአማራ ብሔራዊ ክልላዊ መንግሥት ), is a regional state in northern Ethiopia and the homeland of the Amhara , Awi , Xamir , Argoba , and Qemant people. Its capital is Bahir Dar which is the seat of the Regional Government of Amhara . Amhara is the site of the largest inland body of water in Ethiopia, Lake Tana (which is the source of the Blue Nile ), and Semien Mountains National Park (which includes Ras Dashan ,

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1320-515: The Axumite heritage) and propagating to the core provinces (besides Tigray / Eritrea , and Lasta ) of Bete Amhara , Gojjam , Begemder , northern Shewa , Gafat , and Damot The region's recorded history, in fact, goes back to the early 13th century. For example, St. George's Church in the town of Woreilu (whose Tabot is reputed to have been carried by Emperor Menelik at the Battle of Adwa )

1380-671: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History . On March 5, 2005, another skeleton, estimated to be 3.8 million years old and said to be the world's oldest bipedal hominid skeleton , was found in the region. Yohannes Haile-Selassie led digs there each year from 2004 to 2007. On March 24, 2006, it was reported that a "significantly complete" cranium had been found at Gawis in the Gona area. The cranium appears as an intermediate form between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens . On October 1, 2009, scientists reported that they had found

1440-481: The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria . Easter and Epiphany are the most important celebrations, marked with services, feasting and dancing. There are also many fast days throughout the year, when only vegetables or fish may be eaten. Marriages are often arranged , with men marrying in their late teens or early twenties. Traditionally, girls were married as young as 14, but in the 20th century,

1500-509: The Eritrean–Ethiopian War of 1998 to 2000. On January 18, 2012, five foreign tourists were murdered while on holiday in the region. The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrean gunmen of being responsible for the attack. Many governments around the world advise against traveling to the Afar region, citing increasing security concerns. Additionally, this region is also a hub for Afar–Somali clashes , due to many kebeles being put into

1560-632: The Ethiopian Church are kept in the isolated island monasteries (including Kebran Gabriel, Ura Kidane Mehret , Narga Selassie, Daga Estifanos , Medhane Alem of Rema , Kota Maryam and Mertola Maryam). The body of Yekuno Amlak is interred in the monastery of St. Stephen on Daga Island ; other Emperors whose tombs are on Daga include Dawit I , Zara Yaqob , Za Dengel and Fasilides . Other important islands in Lake Tana include Dek , Mitraha , Gelila Zakarias , Halimun , and Briguida . In

1620-686: The Ethiopian Empire , Amhara included several provinces (such as Bete Amhara , Gojjam , Gonder , Angot , Dembiya , Shewa and Lasta ), most of which were ruled by native Ras or Negus . The current Amhara region corresponds to often large parts of the former provinces of Begemder , Dembiya , Angot , Bete Amhara , Gojjam and Shewa . With the rise of the Solomonic Dynasty in 1270 under Emperor Yekuno Amlak in Bete Amhara near town Dessie around Lake Hayk (born in

1680-466: The Greater Angereb which has its source north of the city of Gondar . The earliest surviving mention of the Atbarah is by Strabo (16.4.8), who called the river Astaboras ( Greek : Ασταβόρας ). Other ancient authors mentioning the name include Agatharchides , who called it Astabaras ( Greek : Ασταβάρας ), and Ptolemy ( Geography 4.7). Richard Pankhurst and others have argued that

1740-587: The Maqdalla region) and until the establishment of Gondar as the new imperial capital around 1600, the Debre-Birhan to Mekane-Selassie region was the primary seat of the roving Wolloye - Shewan emperors. This period is most significant in the formation of the medieval Ethiopian state, the spread and consolidation of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity (following the example set by the Zagwe kings in preserving

1800-635: The Siege of Jerusalem (1187) , after which Muslims denied Ethiopian Christians pilgrimages to the Holy land. Unesco also added Fasil Ghebbi in 1979 as a cultural World Heritage Site . The Royal Enclosure of Fasil Ghebbi was the seat of the Ethiopian Emperors in Gondar the royal capital for more than two centuries(1636 to 1864 AD). The Fasil Ghebbi consist of some twenty palaces, royal buildings,

1860-466: The lava from the erupting volcano flowed underground and cooled forming a 60 kilometres (37 mi) long, 8 metres (26 ft) wide dike within days. The Afar Depression , a plate tectonic triple junction, is found in the Afar Regional State. This geologic feature is one of Earth's great active volcanic areas. Due to this volcanic activity the floor of the depression is composed of lava, mostly basalt. The continuous process of volcanism results in

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1920-581: The 20,000-strong Mahdist detachment. In 1964, the river was dammed by the Khashm el-Girba Dam near Kassala in Sudan to provide irrigation to the newly built town of Halfa Dughaym in an otherwise fairly arid region and to resettle the Sudanese population driven away by the Aswan High Dam (Sad al-Aali) in Egypt, which flooded 500 km of the Nile Valley in southern Egypt and northern Sudan. Construction on

1980-430: The Afar Regional State has a population of 1,812,002, consisting of 991,000 men and 821,002 women; urban inhabitants number 346,000 of the population, a further 1,466,000 were pastoralists. Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), the Afar Regional State has a population of 1,390,273, consisting of 775,117 men and 615,156 women; urban inhabitants number 185,135 or 13.32% of

2040-517: The Afar region by the government. These include key towns like Gadamaytu, Undufo and Adaytu where battles between the Afar region and Somali region militaries happen. These conflicts have had many losses, and have led to the south-eastern parts of the region being an unstable zone. Hadar , a community in Afar, was the site of the discovery in 1973–1974 of " Lucy ", the Australopithecus afarensis skeletal remains, by Donald Johanson of

2100-559: The Amhara region security forces, of leading the plot, and Tsige was shot dead by police near Bahir Dar on 24 June. In April 2023, a strife occurred between the regional special forces of federal government and Fano militia units, advancing to large scale protests in Gondar , Kobo , Seqota , Weldiya on 9 April. Further insurgency was escalated between the two belligerents, resulted in War in Amhara . Since August 2023, Fano militants and ENDF troops intermittently controlled most part of

2160-404: The CSA, as of 2004 , 48.57% of the total population had access to safe drinking water , of whom 26.89% were rural inhabitants and 78.11% were urban. Values for other reported common indicators of the standard of living for the Afar Regional State as of 2005 include the following: 67.3% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 27% and for women 15.6%; and

2220-473: The Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela jointly added with Senegal's Gorée island as Africa's first World Heritage site by Unesco in the cultural criteria in 1978. Lalibela and its medieval monolithic churches attracts by far the most number of pilgrims annually of any religious site in Ethiopia. The New Jerusalem was built in response to the capture of old Jerusalem by Muslim forces during

2280-463: The basis of a survey performed in December 2003 that nomadic inhabitants had 1,990,850 cattle (an 83.8% share of those animals in the region that year), 2,303,250 sheep (90.6%), 3,960,510 goats (90%), 759,750 camels (85.9%), 175,180 asses (92.5%), 2960 mules (88.6%), and 900 horses (100%). As of 2012 , the area has been increasingly unstable, as tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea remain high after

2340-517: The courts of appeals, and retains original jurisdiction over limited matters. The chief judge is called the President of Amhara Supreme Court (Yeneneh Simegn). The State Council, which is the highest administrative body of the state, is made up of 294 members. Amhara is represented by 138 representatives in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia House of Peoples' Representatives . Like other regions in Ethiopia, Amhara

2400-482: The development of Egyptian mythology . Lake Tana contains several islands, whose numbers vary depending on the water level in the lake. (Over the last 400 years, that level has fallen about 2 metres (6.6 ft).) In the early 17th century, according to a contemporaneous report by Manoel de Almeida , a Portuguese missionary , there were 21 islands, which he described as "formerly large, but now much diminished,” and seven or eight of them had monasteries on them. In

2460-479: The highest point in Ethiopia). Amhara is bordered by Sudan to the west and northwest and by other the regions of Ethiopia: Tigray to the north, Afar to the east, Benishangul-Gumuz to the west and southwest, and Oromia to the south. Towns and cities in Amhara include: Bahir Dar , Dessie , Gonder , Debre Birhan , Debre Tabor , Kombolcha , Weldiya , Debre Markos , Seqota , Kobo , and Metema . During

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2520-661: The homeland of the Afar people . Its capital is the planned city of Semera , which lies on the paved Awash – Assab highway. It is bordered by Eritrea to the north and Djibouti to the northeast; it also shares regional borders with the Tigray , Amhara , Oromo and Somali regions. The Afar Triangle , the northern part of which is the Danakil Depression , is part of the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia , and

2580-404: The late 18th century, James Bruce visited the area and noted that, though the locals reported that there were 45 inhabited islands, he believed that "the number may be about eleven." A mid-twentieth-century account reported 37 islands and said that 19 of were the current or former sites of either monasteries or churches. The lake islands were the home of ancient Ethiopian emperors. Treasures of

2640-491: The late 20th century, the scholar Paul B. Henze reported being shown a rock on the island of Tana Qirqos and being told it was where the Virgin Mary had rested during her journey back from Egypt . He was also told that Saint Frumentius , the bishop known for introducing Christianity to Ethiopia, was "allegedly buried on Tana Cherqos." The Amhara region has the most world heritage sites of any region in Ethiopia and

2700-760: The major tourist attraction area of the region. The hot springs, Afar culture and cultural games are other attraction areas. In 2005, a giant rift was formed in just a few days. The rift opened when the Dabbahu Volcano , situated in the north of the region, erupted. The crack forming is thought to be part of the process in which the Arabian Plate , the Nubian Plate, and the Somali Plate, are moving apart. This new crack, 500 metres (1,640 ft) long, and 60 metres (197 ft) deep, opened when

2760-532: The minimum age was raised to 18. After a church wedding, divorce is frowned upon. Each family hosts a separate wedding feast after the wedding. Traditionally, upon childbirth, a priest will visit the family to bless the infant. The mother and child remain in the house for 40 days after birth for physical and emotional strength. The infant will be taken to the church for baptism at 40 days (for boys) or 80 days (for girls). There are several industrial parks that are in operation or under construction. The Kombolcha IP

2820-727: The name should be understood as "River of the Boras people", where asta can be related to Proto- Nubian asti "water", while -boras can be linked to a number of Roman allusions to a tribe named the Bora (Bera), who lived near Meroe , and another tribe named the Megabares ( Greek : Μεγάβαροι in Eratosthenes and Strabo, Latin : Megabarri in Pliny the Elder ). Pliny the Elder provides

2880-402: The native Afar language. The species lived around 3.5–3.3 million years ago, about the same time period as other hominins such as Australopithecus afarensis . Source: Like other regions in Ethiopia, Afar Region is subdivided into administrative zones , in case of Afar, into six zones (and one special woreda , an administrative subdivision which is an autonomous area and is not part of

2940-627: The occurrence of major minerals , including potash , sulfur , salt , bentonite and gypsum . In addition to these minerals, there are also promising geothermal energy sources and hot springs in different areas of the region. Most of the region's mineral potential are found in Dallol , Berhale and Afdera woredas of Zone Two. Elidar , Dubti and Millee in Zone One, and Gewane in Zone Three, also have some mineral possibilities. Afar

3000-545: The population, a further 409,123 or 29.43% were pastoralists . With an estimated area of 96,707 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 14.38 people per square kilometer. For the entire region 247,255 households were counted, which results in an average for the Region of 5.6 persons to a household, with urban households having on average 4 and rural households 6 people. Religion in Afar Region (2007) In

3060-485: The previous census, conducted in 1994, the region's population was reported to be 1,106,383 of which 626,839 were men and 479,544 women; urban inhabitants were 85,879 or 7.76% of the population. Afar is predominantly (89.96%) spoken in the region and is the working language of the state. Other languages with a significant number of speakers in the state include Amharic (6.83%), Tigrinnya (1.06%), Argobba (0.79%), Wolaitta (0.43%), and Oromifa (0.4%). According to

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3120-670: The region) was sacked and burned down in 1531 by the invasion led by Ahmad bin Ibrahim . Francisco Alvarez, who had earlier visited the church, confirms that its size was some 150 feet by 150 feet — wholly covered in gold leaf, inlaid with gems, pearls and corals After the social movements of 2014–2017, Amhara nationalism developed strongly in the region, with a discourse that includes both issues of power balance between elites and territorial claims. Several local politicians, such as Dejene Maru backed by General Asaminew Tsige , were able to control armed factions. On 22 June 2019, factions of

3180-515: The region, leading to major human rights violations and subsequent state of emergency . Since the outbreak of the war, the region experienced internal displacements, extrajudicial killings and extensive property damages. According to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reports, 45 civilians were killed in Amhara region by security forces for allegedly supporting Fano in late January 2024. The Amhara region

3240-544: The regional infant mortality rate is 61 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is less than the nationwide average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants' first month of life. On 20 April 2007, the regional government announced that it had increased health coverage from 34% to 40%, the result of construction of 64 new health clinics, increasing the total for the region to 111. Afar Depression , Erta Ale active volcano, Awash National Park , Yangudi Rassa National Park , Hadar and Aramis areas, are

3300-458: The royal library, a chancellery , a banqueting hall, stables for the horses, highly decorated churches, monasteries and unique public and private buildings that was built during the reign of several emperors in the Gondarine period. The complex covers an area of 70 square kilometers. Based on the 2007 census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), the Amhara region has

3360-677: The security forces of the region attempted a coup d'état against the regional government, during which the President of the Amhara region, Ambachew Mekonnen , was assassinated. A bodyguard siding with the nationalist factions assassinated General Se'are Mekonnen – the Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force – as well as his aide, Major General Gizae Aberra. The Prime Minister's Office accused Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige, head of

3420-400: The total population had access to safe drinking water , including 19.89% of rural inhabitants and 91.8% of urban inhabitants. Values for other reported common indicators of the standard of living for Amhara as of 2005 include the following: 17.5% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 54% and for women 25.1%; and the regional infant mortality rate

3480-479: The world, and the very first in Africa in the natural criteria since 1978. Chosen for its spectacular landscapes and global significance for biodiversity conservation. Situated within the Semien Mountains , Ethiopia's highest peaks Ras Dashen reaches an elevation of (4,543 m (14,905 ft)). The park also has Ethiopia's second and third highest mountains, Kidis Yared (4,453 m (14,610 ft)) and Mount Bwahit (4,437 m (14,557 ft)). The park

3540-418: Was built at a cost of $ 90 million and employs 20,000 people. Arerti IP and Debre Birhan IP are under construction. About 90% of the Amhara are rural and make their living through farming, mostly in the Ethiopian highlands. Barley , corn , millet , wheat, sorghum , and teff , along with beans , peppers , chickpeas , and other vegetables, are the most important crops . In the highlands one crop per year

3600-410: Was established around 1200. The parish of Mekane Selassie (መካነ ሥላሴ), near Neded and the home of the cathedral by the same name, served as a favourite royal playground. The construction of Mekane Selassie (meaning: the abode of the Trinity) was begun by Emperor Naod (1494-1508) and completed by his son Emperor Lebna Dengel . This was a year before the church (along with a large number of monasteries in

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