Bahir Dar Zuria
Encyclopedia
Bahir Dar Zuria is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Mirab Gojjam Zone
, this woreda is bordered on the south by Adet
, on the southwest by Merawi
, on the northwest by the Lesser Abay River which separates it from Achefer
, on the north by Lake Tana
, on the northeast by the city and special zone of Bahir Dar
, and on the east by the Abay River which separates it from the Debub Gondar Zone
. Towns in Bahir Dar Zuria include Meshenti, Tis Abay and Zege.
Bahir Dar Zuria includes the forested Zege pennisula, known for its numerous medieval churches, of which the best known is Ura Kidane Mehret
, and associated monasteries. Other points of interest include the Tis Issat falls, and Dilde, better known as the Portuguese Bridge, over the Abay at Alata, about half a mile below the falls. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 21% is arable or cultivable, 9% pasture, 8% forest or shrubland, 36% covered with water, and the remaining 26% is considered degraded or other. Teff
, corn
, sorghum
, cotton
and sesame
are important cash crops.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 182,730, of whom 93,642 are men and 89,088 women; no urban inhabitants were reported. With an area of 1,443.37 square kilometers, Bahir Dar Zuriya has a population density of 126.60, which is less than the Zone average of 158.25 persons per square kilometer. A total of 40,893 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.47 persons to a household, and 40,097 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 198,284 in 40,391 households, of whom 101,939 were men and 96,345 were women; 8,045 or 4.06% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Bahir Dar Zuria was the Amhara
(99.91%). Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.93%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.22% reporting that as their religion, while 1.74% were Muslim
.
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 Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
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...
. Part of the Mirab Gojjam Zone
Mirab Gojjam Zone
Mirab Gojjam is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Mirab Gojjam is named after the former province of Gojjam was divided in to two administrative zones by EPRDF...
, this woreda is bordered on the south by Adet
Adet (woreda)
Adet is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Gojjam Zone, Adet is bordered on the south by Kuarit, on the southwest by Sekela, on the west by Merawi, on the north by Bahir Dar Zuria, on the east by the Abay River which separates it from the Debub Gondar Zone,...
, on the southwest by Merawi
Merawi (woreda)
Merawi is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Gojjam Zone, Merawi is bordered on the south by Sekela, on the west by the Agew Awi Zone, on the northwest by the Lesser Abay River which separates it from Achefer, on the northeast by Bahir Dar Zuria, and on the...
, on the northwest by the Lesser Abay River which separates it from Achefer
Achefer
Achefer is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named for the historic district of Achefer, which was first mentioned in the 16th century...
, on the north by Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
, on the northeast by the city and special zone of Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar is a city in north western Ethiopia. It is the capital of the Amhara Region .Administratively, Bahir Dar is considered a Special Zone, placing it midway between Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa which are organized as chartered cities , and cities like Debre Marqos and Dessie, which are...
, and on the east by the Abay River which separates it from the Debub Gondar Zone
Debub Gondar Zone
Debub Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This zone is named for the city of Gondar, which was the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, and has often been used as a name for the local province....
. Towns in Bahir Dar Zuria include Meshenti, Tis Abay and Zege.
Bahir Dar Zuria includes the forested Zege pennisula, known for its numerous medieval churches, of which the best known is Ura Kidane Mehret
Ura Kidane Mehret
Ura Kidane Mehret is a church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, located on the Zege peninsula in Lake Tana of Ethiopia. It is part of the complex of the Convent of Mercy...
, and associated monasteries. Other points of interest include the Tis Issat falls, and Dilde, better known as the Portuguese Bridge, over the Abay at Alata, about half a mile below the falls. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 21% is arable or cultivable, 9% pasture, 8% forest or shrubland, 36% covered with water, and the remaining 26% is considered degraded or other. Teff
Teff
Eragrostis tef, known as teff, taf , or khak shir , is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the northern Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa....
, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, cotton
Cotton production in Ethiopia
Cotton is grown throughout Ethiopia at elevations above 1000 meters and below 1400 meters. Because most of the lowlands lack adequate rainfall, cotton cultivation depends largely on irrigation.-History:...
and sesame
Sesame
Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....
are important cash crops.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national census conducted 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...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 182,730, of whom 93,642 are men and 89,088 women; no urban inhabitants were reported. With an area of 1,443.37 square kilometers, Bahir Dar Zuriya has a population density of 126.60, which is less than the Zone average of 158.25 persons per square kilometer. A total of 40,893 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.47 persons to a household, and 40,097 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 198,284 in 40,391 households, of whom 101,939 were men and 96,345 were women; 8,045 or 4.06% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Bahir Dar Zuria was 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...
(99.91%). 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...
was spoken as a first language by 99.93%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.22% reporting that as their religion, while 1.74% were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
.