Arba Minch Zuria
Encyclopedia
Arba Minch Zuria is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. A part of the Gamo Gofa Zone
located in the Great Rift Valley
, Arba Minch Zuria is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda
, on the west by Bonke
, on the north by Chencha
, on the northeast by Boreda Abaya
, on the east by the Oromia Region
, and on the southeast by the Amaro special woreda
. This woreda also includes portions of two lakes and their islands, Abaya
and Chamo
. The largest settlement in Arba Minch Zuria is the city of Arba Minch
.
According to a 2004 report, Arba Minch Zuria had 31 kilometers of asphalt roads, 69 kilometers of all-weather roads and 51 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 90 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
in 2004 as one of several woredas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas, becoming the new home for a total of 3,754 heads of households and 15,016 total family members.
Heavy rains on the nights of 21-22 May 2005 caused the Sile and Sego Rivers to burst their banks, which displaced over 12,000 farmers. An unknown number of livestock were killed and an extensive area of crop fields destroyed.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 232,432, of whom 114,370 are men and 118,062 are women; 72,507 or 31.19% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 1,681.72 square kilometers, Arba Minch Zuria has an estimated population density of 138 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 153,550 of whom 78,158 were men and 75,392 were women; 40,020 or 26.06% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Arba Minch Zuria were the Gamo
(69.53%), the Amhara
(7.94%), the Welayta
(6.75%), the Zayse (6.02%), and the Oromo
(3.64%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.28% of the population. Gamo is spoken as a first language by 65.77%, 16.97% Amharic
, 5.93% Zergula, 5.13% Welayta
, and 2.46% spoke Oromiffa
; the remaining 3.74% spoke all other primary languages reported.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. A part of the Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa Zone
Gamo Gofa is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Gamo and Gofa peoples, whose homelands lie in this Zone...
located in the Great Rift Valley
Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
, Arba Minch Zuria is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda
Dirashe special woreda
Dirashe is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Dirashe is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
, on the west by Bonke
Bonke
Bonke is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Bonke is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the west by the Weito River which separates it from Kemba, on the north by Dita Dermalo, and on the...
, on the north by Chencha
Chencha (woreda)
Chencha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Chencha is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the west by Dita Dermalo, on the north by Kucha, and on the east by Boreda Abaya...
, on the northeast by Boreda Abaya
Boreda Abaya
Boreda Abaya is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Omo Zone, Boreda Abaya is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the southwest by Chencha, on the west by Kucha, on the north by Humbo, and on the east by Lake...
, on the east by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, and on the southeast by the Amaro special woreda
Amaro special woreda
Amaro is one of the 79 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Amaro is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
. This woreda also includes portions of two lakes and their islands, Abaya
Lake Abaya
Lake Abaya is a lake in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. It was named Lake Margherita by the Italian explorer Vittorio Bottego, the first European commonly thought to visit the lake, to honor the wife of king Umberto I of Italy, Queen Margherita...
and Chamo
Lake Chamo
Lake Chamo is a lake in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of southern Ethiopia. It is located in the Great Rift Valley at an elevation of 1,110 meters. It is just to the south of Lake Abaya and the city of Arba Minch, and east of the Guge Mountains.The lake's northern end...
. The largest settlement in Arba Minch Zuria is the city of Arba Minch
Arba Minch
Arba Minch is a city in southern Ethiopia; less common names for this city include Ganta Garo and Minghi. Located in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285 meters above sea level...
.
According to a 2004 report, Arba Minch Zuria had 31 kilometers of asphalt roads, 69 kilometers of all-weather roads and 51 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 90 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
History
Arba Minch Zuria was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the agricultural and rural development policies of Ethiopia on a Federal level...
in 2004 as one of several woredas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas, becoming the new home for a total of 3,754 heads of households and 15,016 total family members.
Heavy rains on the nights of 21-22 May 2005 caused the Sile and Sego Rivers to burst their banks, which displaced over 12,000 farmers. An unknown number of livestock were killed and an extensive area of crop fields destroyed.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 232,432, of whom 114,370 are men and 118,062 are women; 72,507 or 31.19% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 8.5%. With an estimated area of 1,681.72 square kilometers, Arba Minch Zuria has an estimated population density of 138 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 156.5.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 153,550 of whom 78,158 were men and 75,392 were women; 40,020 or 26.06% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Arba Minch Zuria were the Gamo
Gamo people
Gamo is the name of the Ethiopian ethnic group who speak the Gamo language. The name "Gamo" means a lion, which refers to their legacy; along with the Goffa, they gave their names to the former Gamo-Gofa province of Ethiopia. The 2007 Ethiopian national census reported that 1,107,163 people ...
(69.53%), the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(7.94%), the Welayta
Welayta people
Wolayta is the name of an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent census , they number 1.7 million people or 2.31 percent of the country's population, of whom 289,707 are urban inhabitants...
(6.75%), the Zayse (6.02%), and the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(3.64%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.28% of the population. Gamo is spoken as a first language by 65.77%, 16.97% Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
, 5.93% Zergula, 5.13% Welayta
Welayta language
Wolaytta is an Omotic language spoken in the Wolaita Zone and some parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia. The number of speakers of this language is estimated at 2,000,000 ; it is the native language of the Welayta people...
, and 2.46% spoke Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
; the remaining 3.74% spoke all other primary languages reported.