Gondar Zuria
Encyclopedia
Gondar Zuria is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone
, Gondar Zuria is bordered on the south by the Debub Gondar Zone
, on the southwest by Lake Tana
, on the west by Dembiya
, on the north by Lay Armachiho
, on the northeast by Wegera
, and on the southeast by Belessa
. Towns in Gondar Zuria include Azazo, Degoma, Emfraz
, Maksenit and Teda. The city and woreda of Gondar
is surrounded by Gondar Zuria in the northern part of this woreda.
Notable landmarks in this woreda include Guzara Castle, a former Imperial residence said to have been built by Emperor Sarsa Dengel
.
In May 1771, the Three battles of Sarbakusa were fought south of Teda within the modern borders of this woreda between Ras Mikael Sehul
and the triumvirate of Fasil, Goshu of Amhara, and Wand Bewossen
of Begemder
. Ras Mikael was defeated, and his influence over the Emperors
at Gondar
came to an end.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 191,394, a decrease of 0.49% from the 1994 census, of whom 97,388 are men and 94,006 women; 18,377 or 9.60% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,108.53 square kilometers, Gondar Zuriya has a population density of 172.66, which is greater than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 42,753 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.48 persons to a household, and 41,182 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 192,337 in 35,547 households, of whom 98,075 were men and 94,262 women; 15,703 or 8.16% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Gondar Zuria were the Amhara
(91.23%), and the Qemant
(8.26%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.51% of the population. A notable minority in this woreda are the Weyto
, who are thought to be the earliest surviving ethnic group to settle around Lake Tana; they number 295 or 0.15% of the population. Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.78%; the remaining 0.22% spoke all other primary languages reported. 92.45% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 7.37% of the population said they 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 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....
, Gondar Zuria is bordered on the south by 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....
, on the southwest by Lake Tana
Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia...
, on the west by Dembiya
Dembiya (woreda)
Dembiya is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named for the former province of Dembiya, which was located roughly in the same location. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Dembiya is bordered on the south by Lake Tana, on the southwest by Alefa, on the west by Chilga, on the...
, on the north by Lay Armachiho
Lay Armachiho
Lay Armachiho is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after "Armachiho", a province in northwestern northwestern Ethiopia along the border with Sudan and south of the Tekezé River...
, on the northeast by Wegera
Wegera (woreda)
Wegera or Wogera is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Wegera is named for the former province Wegera, which was located roughly in the same location, and was later made part of the province of Semien...
, and on the southeast by Belessa
Belessa
Belessa is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the former province Belessa, which lay in the same area. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Belessa is bordered on the south by the Debub Gondar Zone, on the west by Gondar Zuria, on the northwest by Wegera, on the...
. Towns in Gondar Zuria include Azazo, Degoma, Emfraz
Emfraz
Emfraz or Enfraz is a historic town and district in northern Ethiopia...
, Maksenit and Teda. The city and woreda of 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...
is surrounded by Gondar Zuria in the northern part of this woreda.
Notable landmarks in this woreda include Guzara Castle, a former Imperial residence said to have been built by Emperor Sarsa Dengel
Sarsa Dengel
Sarsa Dengel was of Ethiopia, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
.
In May 1771, the Three battles of Sarbakusa were fought south of Teda within the modern borders of this woreda between Ras Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul
Mikael Sehul was a Ras or governor of Tigray 1748–71 and again from 1772 until his death...
and the triumvirate of Fasil, Goshu of Amhara, and Wand Bewossen
Wand Bewossen
Wand Bewossen is a military figure in Ethiopian history. He was on the losing side in the Battle of Nefas Mewcha , but one of the victorious generals in the Three battles of Sarbakusa...
of Begemder
Begemder
Begemder was a province in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. There are several proposed etymologies for this name...
. Ras Mikael was defeated, and his influence over the Emperors
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
at 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...
came to an end.
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 191,394, a decrease of 0.49% from the 1994 census, of whom 97,388 are men and 94,006 women; 18,377 or 9.60% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,108.53 square kilometers, Gondar Zuriya has a population density of 172.66, which is greater than the Zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometer. A total of 42,753 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.48 persons to a household, and 41,182 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 192,337 in 35,547 households, of whom 98,075 were men and 94,262 women; 15,703 or 8.16% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Gondar Zuria were 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...
(91.23%), and the Qemant
Qemant
The Qemant are a small ethnic group in Ethiopia, who, despite their close historical and ethnic relationship, should not be confused with the Beta Israel....
(8.26%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.51% of the population. A notable minority in this woreda are the Weyto
Weyto people
The Weyto people are a group of hippopotamus hunters who lived in Ethiopia around Lake Tana. They were known to speak the Weyto Language, which became extinct at some point in the 19th century...
, who are thought to be the earliest surviving ethnic group to settle around Lake Tana; they number 295 or 0.15% of the population. 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 99.78%; the remaining 0.22% spoke all other primary languages reported. 92.45% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 7.37% of the population said they 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...
.