Ambassel
Encyclopedia
Ambassel is one of the 105 woreda
s of the Amhara Region
in Ethiopia
, and an amba
, or mountain fortress, located in the woreda; the woreda is named for this feature. Located in the Debub Wollo Zone
, Ambassel woreda is bordered on the west by the Bashilo
which separates it from Tenta
, on the north by the Semien Wollo Zone
, on the southeast by the Mille River
which separates it from Tehuledere
, and on the south by Kutaber
; the Walano, a tributary of the Bashilo, defines most of its southern border. Its largest town is Wuchale
.
Elevations in this woreda range from 1200 to 3200 meters above sea level; the divide between the drainage areas of the Nile
and the Awash
runs through the middle of Ambassel. Rivers include the Waha Titu. Notable landmarks include Amba Geshen
, where the medieval Emperors of Ethiopia
would confine their male relatives to keep them from threatening his power. Ambassel has proven deposits of coal
near Wuchale, which were exploited during the Italian occupation
.
.
Empress Menen Asfaw
, consort of Emperor Haile Selassie, was a daughter of Jantirar Asfaw of Ambassel.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 121,899, an increase of 9.65% over the 1994 census, of whom 61,290 are men and 60,609 women; 5,882 or 4.83% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 882.24 square kilometers, Amba Sel has a population density of 138.17, which is less than the Zone average of 147.58 persons per square kilometer. A total of 29,390 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.15 persons to a household, and 28,407 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 111,172 in 24,610 households, of whom 55,074 were men and 56,098 were women; 3,934 or 3.54% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Ambassel was the Amhara
(99.91%). Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.92%. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 73.92% having reported they practiced that belief, while 25.85% 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 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....
in 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...
, and an amba
Amba (geology)
An amba is a characteristic geologic form in Ethiopia. It is a steep sided, flat topped mountain, often the site of villages, wells and their surrounding farmland. These settlements were located there because they were very defensible and often virtually inaccessible plateaus.The original term in...
, or mountain fortress, located in the woreda; the woreda is named for this feature. Located in the Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo is one of 10 Zones in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. It acquired its name from the former province of Wollo.Debub Wollo is bordered on the south by Semien Shewa and the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the northwest by Debub Gondar, on the north by Semien Wollo and on the...
, Ambassel woreda is bordered on the west by the Bashilo
Bashilo River
The Bashilo River is located in Ethiopia. Known for its canyon, which one source describes as almost as extensive as the canyon of its parent the Abay, also known as the Blue Nile, the river originates just west of Kutaber in the Amhara Region, flowing first to the northwest to where the Tergiya...
which separates it from Tenta
Tenta (woreda)
Tenta is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone, Tenta is bordered on the south by Legambo, on the southwest by Sayint, on the west by Magdala, on the north by the Bashilo River which separates it from Semien Wollo Zone, on the northeast by Amba Sel,...
, on the north by the Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. Semien Wollo acquired its name from the former province of Wollo. Semien Wollo is bordered on the south by Debub Wollo, on the west by Debub Gondar, on the north by Wag Hemra, and on the northeast and east by the Afar Region; part of its...
, on the southeast by the Mille River
Mille River
The Mille River is a river of Ethiopia and a tributary of the Awash. It drains parts of the Semien Wollo and Debub Wollo Zones of the Amhara Region, as well as Administrative Zone 4 of the Afar Region.The explorer L.M...
which separates it from Tehuledere
Tehuledere
Tehuledere is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named for one of the "Houses" or subgroups of the Wollo Oromo, who was located there...
, and on the south by Kutaber
Kutaber (woreda)
Kutaber is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone, Kutaber is bordered on the south by Dessie Zuria, on the west by the Adila River which separates it from Tenta, on the north by the Walano which separates it from Amba Sel, and on the east by...
; the Walano, a tributary of the Bashilo, defines most of its southern border. Its largest town is Wuchale
Wuchale
Wuchale is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located about 40 kilometers north of Dessie in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 1711 meters...
.
Elevations in this woreda range from 1200 to 3200 meters above sea level; the divide between the drainage areas of the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
and the Awash
Awash River
The Awash is a major river of Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes that begin with Lake Gargori and end with Lake Abbe on the border with Djibouti, some 100 kilometers from the head of the Gulf of Tadjoura...
runs through the middle of Ambassel. Rivers include the Waha Titu. Notable landmarks include Amba Geshen
Amba Geshen
Amba Geshen is the name of a mountain in northern Ethiopia.It is located in the Debub Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region, northwest of Dessie, and sits at a latitude and longitude of . Part of Ambassel woreda, it is one of the mountains of Ethiopia where most of the male heirs to the Emperor of...
, where the medieval Emperors of Ethiopia
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...
would confine their male relatives to keep them from threatening his power. Ambassel has proven deposits of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
near Wuchale, which were exploited during the Italian occupation
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
.
History
The feudal family that historically held the fortress of Ambassel and the surrounding woreda is one of the most noble in Ethiopian history, though they never ruled any larger realm than their own district. The male members of the family holding the fortress were traditionally the sole bearers of the title of JantirarJantirar
Jantirar is a title of the Ethiopian Empire. It is borne historically by the head of the family holding the mountain fortress of Amba Sel in Ethiopia, similar to Wagshum, the heridary ruler of the province of Wag, and unlike other aristocratic titles like Meridazmach or Ras...
.
Empress Menen Asfaw
Menen Asfaw
Empress Menen Asfaw was the wife and consort of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. Empress Menen was the daughter of Asfaw, Jantirar of Ambassel...
, consort of Emperor Haile Selassie, was a daughter of Jantirar Asfaw of Ambassel.
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 121,899, an increase of 9.65% over the 1994 census, of whom 61,290 are men and 60,609 women; 5,882 or 4.83% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 882.24 square kilometers, Amba Sel has a population density of 138.17, which is less than the Zone average of 147.58 persons per square kilometer. A total of 29,390 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.15 persons to a household, and 28,407 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 111,172 in 24,610 households, of whom 55,074 were men and 56,098 were women; 3,934 or 3.54% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Ambassel 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 99.92%. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 73.92% having reported they practiced that belief, while 25.85% 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...
.