The Amhara Region is located in the northwestern part of Ethiopia between 9°20' and 14°20' North latitude and 36° 20' and 40° 20' East longitude. It covers an area of about 157,121.76 km2. This also covers 15% of the total area of the country. The Region shares boundaries with Tigray Region in the North, Afar Region in the East, Oromiya Region in the South, Benishangul-Gumiz Region in the Southwest and the country Sudan in the west.

 

The region is administratively divided into 10 zones, 128 Woredas (districts), and 23 town administrations. There are about 3461 kebeles or localities, the smallest administrative settings. Decision-making power has recently been decentralized to weredas and thus the woredas are responsible for all development activities in their areas.

The ten administrative zones are: North Gonder, South Gonder, West Gojjam, East Gojjam, Awie, Wag Hemra, North Wollo, South Wollo, Oromia and North Shewa.

The Amhara Region has very complex terrain with altitude ranges from under 500 to 4620 meters above sea level. About 25% of the region comprises the northwestern lowlands, the vast stretch of lower river valleys and deep gorges with altitude ranges from 500-1500 meters above sea level. More than 50% of the region constitutes the mid highlands and fringe areas between 1500-2500 meters above see level. The remaining 25% are the extensive high plateaus and mountains (2500-4620 meters altitude) located in the northern, central and northwestern and eastern parts of the region. The highest mountain, Ras Dashen(4543m) is found in this region.

Most rivers and streams originate from these highlands and drain most areas of the region, including other neighboring regions. The bigest lake of the country, Lake Tana ( 3,078.01km2), is also found in this region.

As result of intensified agricultural activities and high population growth, and adverse natural conditions, most highlands have now become deforested, environmentally degraded and prone to recurrent drought and famine.

The region climate varies corresponding with variation in altitude. Low altitude (<1500 meters) areas are hot or warm semi-arid and show tropical type of climate with mean annual temperature ranges from 20-30 0c and mean annual rainfall ranges from 400-900 mm. Areas between 1501-2500 meters altitude are cool, sub-humid, sub-temperate areas with mean annual temperature ranging from 16-21 0c & mean annual rainfall ranges from 1000-1600 mm. While areas above 2500, are the cool-humid, moist with mean annual temperature ranging from 7-15 0c and mean annual rainfall above 1200 mm.

Source: BoFED 2009

Demography...