Dengel Ber
Encyclopedia
Dengel Ber is a town in western Ethiopia
. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Tana
in the Semien Gondar Zone
of the Amhara Region
, this town has a latitude and longitude of 11°57′N 37°00′E. Access to this town includes track roads to both Shawra and Kunzela and weekly service by the Bahir Dar
-Gorgora
ferry on Lake Tana. While the name of the town is indisputably Amharic
, there is some disagreement over the meaning of its name: while "Pass of the Virgin" has been the most common interpretation since at least the days James Bruce
visited Ethiopia, Huntingford and Beckingham state that it means "pass of canna plants".
, Dengel Bar is dominated by a tall rock which leaves only a narrow passage, controlling access between Gojjam
and Gondar
on the west side of the lake. For example, Ras Mikael Sehul
accompanied by Emperor Tekle Haymanot
camped here on their march south against Fasil of Damot, whom they defeated in the Battle of Faggeta on 9 December 1769. When he faced an attack from Ras Ali II
at the beginning of 1852, Dejazmach Kasa (the future Emperor Tewodros II
) moved from Agawmeder
to a fortified position near Dengel Ber. Ali's officers found the position too strong to attack, so they bypassed it and proceeded north to Dembiya
.
Despite this history, by the time P. H. G. Powell-Cotton visited the town in May 1900, he reported finding only ruined stone houses. According to the materials on the Nordic African Institute, Dengel Bar was the administrative center of Alefa woreda, prior to Shawra; it also provides details of a primary school in this town during the year 1968.
in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 2,439 of whom 1,252 are men and 1,187 are women. The 1994 census reported Dengel Ber had a total population of 1,403 of whom 659 were men and 744 were women. It is one of four towns in Alefa
woreda
.
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...
. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
in the Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
of 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....
, this town has a latitude and longitude of 11°57′N 37°00′E. Access to this town includes track roads to both Shawra and Kunzela and weekly service by the 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...
-Gorgora
Gorgora
Gorgora is a town and peninsula in northwestern Ethiopia...
ferry on Lake Tana. While the name of the town is indisputably 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...
, there is some disagreement over the meaning of its name: while "Pass of the Virgin" has been the most common interpretation since at least the days James Bruce
James Bruce
James Bruce was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who spent more than a dozen years in North Africa and Ethiopia, where he traced the origins of the Blue Nile.-Youth:...
visited Ethiopia, Huntingford and Beckingham state that it means "pass of canna plants".
History
Located on shore on the western shore of Lake Tana opposite Dek IslandDek Island
Dek Island is the biggest island on Lake Tana in Ethiopia. It is administratively included in the Bahir Dar Zuria woreda of the Mirab Gojjam Zone. To the southeast of Dek is the much smaller Daga Island.- Overview :It is home to several monasteries, the best known being Narga Selassie...
, Dengel Bar is dominated by a tall rock which leaves only a narrow passage, controlling access between Gojjam
Gojjam
Gojjam was a kingdom in the north-western part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Debre Marqos. This region is distinctive for lying entirely within the bend of the Abbay River from its outflow from Lake Tana to the Sudan...
and Gondar
Gondar
Gondar or Gonder is a city in Ethiopia, which was once the old imperial capital and capital of the historic Begemder Province. As a result, the old province of Begemder is sometimes referred to as Gondar...
on the west side of the lake. For example, Ras Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul was a Ras or governor of Tigray 1748–71 and again from 1772 until his death...
accompanied by Emperor Tekle Haymanot
Tekle Haymanot II of Ethiopia
Tekle Haymanot II was as Admas Sagad III of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
camped here on their march south against Fasil of Damot, whom they defeated in the Battle of Faggeta on 9 December 1769. When he faced an attack from Ras Ali II
Ali II of Yejju
Ali II of Yejju was a Ras of Begemder and Enderase of the Emperor of Ethiopia. He was the son of Alula of Yejju, sometime governor of Damot and then of Gojjam, and Menen Liben Amede, later Empress of Ethiopia, and grandson of Gugsa of Yejju, by his fourth wife, Amata Selassie, daughter of Emperor...
at the beginning of 1852, Dejazmach Kasa (the future Emperor Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
) moved from Agawmeder
Agawmeder
Agawmeder was a historical state and region in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It most likely etymology is from Agew , a people living in the area plus meder , thus meaning "Land of the Agaw"...
to a fortified position near Dengel Ber. Ali's officers found the position too strong to attack, so they bypassed it and proceeded north to Dembiya
Dembiya
Dembiya is a historic region of Ethiopia, intimately linked with Lake Tana. According to the account of Manuel de Almeida, Dembiya was "bounded on East by Begemder, on South by Gojjam, on West by Agaws of Achefer and Tangha...
.
Despite this history, by the time P. H. G. Powell-Cotton visited the town in May 1900, he reported finding only ruined stone houses. According to the materials on the Nordic African Institute, Dengel Bar was the administrative center of Alefa woreda, prior to Shawra; it also provides details of a primary school in this town during the year 1968.
Demographics
Based on figures from 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 town has an estimated total population of 2,439 of whom 1,252 are men and 1,187 are women. The 1994 census reported Dengel Ber had a total population of 1,403 of whom 659 were men and 744 were women. It is one of four towns in Alefa
Alefa
Alefa is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Alefa is bordered on the south by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the west by Qwara, on the northwest by Metemma, on the north by Chilga, on the northeast by Dembiya, on the east by Lake Tana and on...
woreda
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...
.