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Amanit is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the
Dogu'a Tembien Dogu'a Tembien (, "Upper Tembien", sometimes transliterated as Degua Tembien or Dägʿa Tämben) is a woreda in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. It is named in part after the former province of Tembien. Nowadays, the mountainous district is part of the ...
district of the
Tigray Region The Tigray Region (or simply Tigray; officially the Tigray National Regional State) is the northernmost Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in Ethiopia. The Tigray Region is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob people, Irob and Kunama people. I ...
of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
. The ''tabia'' centre is Addi Qeshofo village, located approximately 15 km to the southeast of the ''woreda'' town Hagere Selam (as the crow flies).


Geography

The ''tabia'' stretches down southbound over an elongated ridge between
Inda Sillasie River The Inda Sillasie is a river of northern Ethiopia. It originates at the confluence of May Zegzeg and May Be'ati Rivers in the mountains of Degua Tembien, Dogu’a Tembien (1970 metres above sea level), and flows southward to Giba River which emp ...
and Addi Keshofo River towards
Giba River The Giba is a river of northern Ethiopia. It starts at the confluence of Genfel and Sulluh (which rises in the mountains of Mugulat) (3,298 metres above sea level) and flows westward to the Tekezé River. Future Lake Giba will occupy the plain w ...
. The highest place is a hill east of Gudeli (2230 m a.s.l.) and the lowest place at the junction of Inda Sillasie and Giba Rivers (1448 m a.s.l.).


Geology

The two main geological formations are
Antalo Limestone The Antalo Limestone, also known as the Antalo Sequence, is a geological formation in Ethiopia. It is between 300 and 800 metres thick and comprises fossiliferous limestones and marls that were deposited in a reef. Marine microfossils have shown ...
in most of the ''tabia'', and Adigrat Sandstone on the slopes towards the river gorges.
Quaternary The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), as well as the current and most recent of the twelve periods of the ...
alluvium Alluvium (, ) is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluvium is also sometimes called alluvial deposit. Alluvium is ...
and freshwater
tufa Tufa is a variety of limestone formed when carbonate minerals precipitation (chemistry), precipitate out of water in ambient temperature, unheated rivers or lakes. hot spring, Geothermally heated hot springs sometimes produce similar (but less ...
occur in the valley bottoms.


Geomorphology and soils

The main
geomorphic Geomorphology () is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topography, topographic and bathymetry, bathymetric features generated by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. Ge ...
units, with corresponding soil types are: * Gently rolling
Antalo Limestone The Antalo Limestone, also known as the Antalo Sequence, is a geological formation in Ethiopia. It is between 300 and 800 metres thick and comprises fossiliferous limestones and marls that were deposited in a reef. Marine microfossils have shown ...
plateau, holding cliffs and valley bottoms on limestone ** Associated soil types *** shallow stony soils with a dark surface horizon overlying calcaric material (Calcaric
Leptosol A Leptosol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a very shallow soil over continuous rock or a deeper soil that is extremely rich in coarse fragments (gravelly and/or stony). Leptosols cover approximately 1.7 billion hectares o ...
) *** moderately deep dark stony
clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...
s with good natural fertility (Vertic
Cambisol A Cambisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a soil in the beginning of soil formation. The horizon differentiation is weak. This is evident from weak, mostly brownish discolouration and/or structure formation in the soil pro ...
) *** deep, dark cracking
clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...
s on calcaric material (Calcaric
Vertisol A vertisol is a Soil Order in the USDA soil taxonomy and a Reference Soil Group in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). It is also defined in many other soil classification systems. In the Australian Soil Classification it is c ...
, Calcic
Vertisol A vertisol is a Soil Order in the USDA soil taxonomy and a Reference Soil Group in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). It is also defined in many other soil classification systems. In the Australian Soil Classification it is c ...
) ** Inclusions *** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic
Leptosol A Leptosol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a very shallow soil over continuous rock or a deeper soil that is extremely rich in coarse fragments (gravelly and/or stony). Leptosols cover approximately 1.7 billion hectares o ...
) *** Shallow very stony
loam Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–si ...
y soil on limestone (Skeletic Calcaric
Cambisol A Cambisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a soil in the beginning of soil formation. The horizon differentiation is weak. This is evident from weak, mostly brownish discolouration and/or structure formation in the soil pro ...
) *** Deep dark cracking
clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...
s with very good natural fertility, waterlogged during the wet season (Chromic
Vertisol A vertisol is a Soil Order in the USDA soil taxonomy and a Reference Soil Group in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). It is also defined in many other soil classification systems. In the Australian Soil Classification it is c ...
, Pellic
Vertisol A vertisol is a Soil Order in the USDA soil taxonomy and a Reference Soil Group in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). It is also defined in many other soil classification systems. In the Australian Soil Classification it is c ...
) *** Brown to dark
sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is usually defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural ...
s and silt loams on
alluvium Alluvium (, ) is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluvium is also sometimes called alluvial deposit. Alluvium is ...
(Vertic
Fluvisol A fluvisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a genetically young soil in alluvial deposits . Apart from river sediments, they also occur in lacustrine and marine deposits. Fluvisols correlate with fluvents and fluvaquents ...
, Eutric
Fluvisol A fluvisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a genetically young soil in alluvial deposits . Apart from river sediments, they also occur in lacustrine and marine deposits. Fluvisols correlate with fluvents and fluvaquents ...
, Haplic
Fluvisol A fluvisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a genetically young soil in alluvial deposits . Apart from river sediments, they also occur in lacustrine and marine deposits. Fluvisols correlate with fluvents and fluvaquents ...
) * Strongly incised Giba gorge ** Dominant soil type: complex of rock outcrops, very stony and very shallow soils ((Lithic)
Leptosol A Leptosol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a very shallow soil over continuous rock or a deeper soil that is extremely rich in coarse fragments (gravelly and/or stony). Leptosols cover approximately 1.7 billion hectares o ...
) ** Associated soil types *** shallow, stony, dark, loamy soils on calcaric material (Rendzic
Leptosol A Leptosol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a very shallow soil over continuous rock or a deeper soil that is extremely rich in coarse fragments (gravelly and/or stony). Leptosols cover approximately 1.7 billion hectares o ...
) *** shallow, stony to sandy loam soils on calcaric material (Calcaric
Regosol A Regosol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is very weakly developed mineral soil in Soil consolidation, unconsolidated materials. Regosols are extensive in erosion, eroding lands, in particular in arid and semi-arid areas and i ...
and
Cambisol A Cambisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a soil in the beginning of soil formation. The horizon differentiation is weak. This is evident from weak, mostly brownish discolouration and/or structure formation in the soil pro ...
*** brown loamy sands developed on alluvium along Giba River (
Fluvisol A fluvisol in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is a genetically young soil in alluvial deposits . Apart from river sediments, they also occur in lacustrine and marine deposits. Fluvisols correlate with fluvents and fluvaquents ...
)


Water


Springs and irrigation

There is permanent water in the main rivers, but located deep in the gorges, they are difficult of access. It is used for irrigation, and occasionally for drinking water. Hence, the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. The following are the springs in the tabia: * Addi Qeshefo in the homonymous village * Gudeli in May Genet * May Hib'o inside a cave in Addi Lihtsi


Ponds

In this area with rains that last only for a couple of months per year, reservoirs of different sizes allow harvesting runoff from the rainy season for further use in the dry season. There are many traditional surface water harvesting ponds, particularly in places without permanent springs, called ''rahaya''; they continue to be maintained and expanded. In addition, ''Horoyo'', household ponds, have recently been constructed through campaigns.


Vegetation and exclosures

The ''tabia'' holds several
exclosure An exclosure, in an area being used extensively for grazing, is a limited area from which unwanted browsing (herbivory), browsing animals, such as domestic cattle or wildlife such as deer, are excluded by fencing or other means. Environmental ...
s, areas that are set aside for regreening. Wood harvesting and livestock range are not allowed there. Besides effects on
biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...
,
water infiltration Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. It is commonly used in both hydrology and soil sciences. The infiltration capacity is defined as the maximum rate of infiltration. It is most often measured in meter ...
, protection from flooding,
sediment Sediment is a solid material that is transported to a new location where it is deposited. It occurs naturally and, through the processes of weathering and erosion, is broken down and subsequently sediment transport, transported by the action of ...
deposition,
carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. It plays a crucial role in Climate change mitigation, limiting climate change by reducing the amount of Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere, carbon dioxide in the atmosphe ...
, people commonly have economic benefits from these exclosures through grass harvesting, beekeeping and other
non-timber forest product Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are useful foods, substances, materials and/or commodities obtained from forests other than timber. Harvest ranges from wild collection to farming. They typically include game animals, fur-bearers, nuts, see ...
s. The local inhabitants also consider it as “land set aside for future generations”. In this ''tabia'', some exclosures are managed by the EthioTrees project. They have as an additional benefit that the villagers receive
carbon credit Carbon offsetting is a carbon trading mechanism that enables entities to compensate for offset greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that reduce, avoid, or remove emissions elsewhere. When an entity invests in a carbon offsetting p ...
s for the sequestered , as part of a
carbon offset Carbon offsetting is a carbon trading mechanism that enables entities to compensate for offset greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that reduce, avoid, or remove emissions elsewhere. When an entity invests in a carbon offsetting ...
programme.EthioTrees on Plan Vivo website
/ref> The revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities;EthioTrees on Davines website
/ref> it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, conservation in the exclosures, or a store for
incense Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
. The following exclosures are managed by the Ethiotrees project in Amanit municipality: * Addi Lihtsi, near the homonymous village (415.65 ha) *
Kidmi Gestet Kidmi Gestet is an exclosure located in the Dogu'a Tembien ''woreda'' of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia. Environmental characteristics Source: * Area: 46 ha * Average slope gradient: 48% * Minimum altitude: 2015 metres * Maximum altitude: 2131 m ...
, near the village of Gestet (26.76 ha) * May Genet, near the homonymous village (29.89 ha) * May Hib'o, near the village of Addi Lihtsi (46.72 ha)


Livelihood

The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by
farmland Agricultural land is typically land ''devoted to'' agriculture, the systematic and controlled use of other forms of lifeparticularly the rearing of livestock and production of cropsto produce food for humans. It is generally synonymous with bot ...
s which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent upland
farming system Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food ...
. Especially the youngsters will go to the deep gorge of Giba river to harvest
incense Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
from
Boswellia papyrifera ''Boswellia papyrifera'', also known as the Sudanese frankincense, is a species of flowering plant and frankincense that is native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. The tree is cultivated in Ethiopia because of its valuable resin. The incense is c ...
trees.


Population

The ''tabia'' centre Addi Qeshofo holds a few administrative offices, a health post, a primary school, and some small shops. There are a few more primary schools across the ''tabia''. The main other populated places are:


Religion and churches

Most inhabitants are Orthodox Christians. The following churches are located in the ''tabia'':


History

The history of the ''tabia'' is strongly confounded with the
history of Tembien Tembien (Tigrinya language, Tigrigna: ተምቤን) is a historic region in Tigray Region and former provinces of Ethiopia. It is a mountainous area of that country. During the reforms in 1994–95, the old provinces were replaced with regions of ...
.


Roads and communication

The main road
Mekelle Mekelle (), or Mek'ele, is a List of zones of Ethiopia, special zone and capital city, capital of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Mekelle was formerly the capital of Enderta province, Enderta Awrajja, awraja in Tigray Province, Tigray. It is locate ...
Hagere Selam
Abiy Addi Abiy Addi (also spelled Abi Addi; Tigrigna ዓብዪ ዓዲ "Big town") is a town in central Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Abiy Addi is at the southeastern edge of the Kola Tembien woreda, of which it is the capital. Overview The town is divided i ...
is far away from the ''tabia''. A rural access road links most villages to Togogwa in
Debre Nazret Debre Nazret is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the Enderta (woreda), Inderta district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It belonged to Degua Tembien, Dogu'a Tembien up to January 2020. The ''tabia'' centre is in Togogwa town, located approximatel ...
, where there is public transport to
Mekelle Mekelle (), or Mek'ele, is a List of zones of Ethiopia, special zone and capital city, capital of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Mekelle was formerly the capital of Enderta province, Enderta Awrajja, awraja in Tigray Province, Tigray. It is locate ...
and Hagere Selam.


Schools

Almost all children of the ''tabia'' are schooled, though in some schools there is lack of classrooms, directly related to the large intake in primary schools over the last decades. Schools in the ''tabia'' include Amanit school.


Tourism

Its mountainous nature and proximity to
Mekelle Mekelle (), or Mek'ele, is a List of zones of Ethiopia, special zone and capital city, capital of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Mekelle was formerly the capital of Enderta province, Enderta Awrajja, awraja in Tigray Province, Tigray. It is locate ...
makes the ''tabia'' fit for tourism.


Geotouristic sites

The high variability of geological formations and the rugged topography invites for geological and geographic tourism or "geotourism". Geosites in the ''tabia'' include: * The Giba gorge with its
incense Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
trees * May Hib'o cave * Large rockfall west of Addi Lihtsi * Traditional agroforestry in Segenet


Birdwatching

Birdwatching Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescop ...
(for the species, see the main
Dogu'a Tembien Dogu'a Tembien (, "Upper Tembien", sometimes transliterated as Degua Tembien or Dägʿa Tämben) is a woreda in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. It is named in part after the former province of Tembien. Nowadays, the mountainous district is part of the ...
page) can be done particularly in exclosures and forests. The following bird-watching sites have been inventoried in the ''tabia'' and mapped. * Abune Aregawi church forest * Slope forests in Addi Qeshofo


Trekking routes

Trekking routes have been established in this ''tabia''. The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded .GPX files. * Trek 15, from north to south across the ''tabia'' into Giba gorge * Trek 16, from Rubaksa ( Mika'el Abiy) across Segenet and May Genet to Togogwa (
Debre Nazret Debre Nazret is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the Enderta (woreda), Inderta district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It belonged to Degua Tembien, Dogu'a Tembien up to January 2020. The ''tabia'' centre is in Togogwa town, located approximatel ...
) (10 km) * Trek 18, from the old bridge on Giba River in
Debre Nazret Debre Nazret is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the Enderta (woreda), Inderta district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It belonged to Degua Tembien, Dogu'a Tembien up to January 2020. The ''tabia'' centre is in Togogwa town, located approximatel ...
, up to the plateau and then westbound along the northern shoulder of the Giba Gorge to Addi Lihtsi (20 km) Loops allow detailed visits of Addi Lihtsi village and its
incense Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
landscapes


''Inda Siwa'', the local beer houses

In the main villages, there are traditional beer houses ('' Inda Siwa''), often in unique settings, which are a good place for resting and chatting with the local people. Most renown are in May Genet: * Medhin Hayelom * Hadash Mebrahten * Indanuguse Alemayehu


Accommodation and facilities

The facilities are very basic. One may be invited to spend the night in a rural homestead or ask permission to pitch a tent. Hotels are available in Hagere Selam and
Mekelle Mekelle (), or Mek'ele, is a List of zones of Ethiopia, special zone and capital city, capital of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Mekelle was formerly the capital of Enderta province, Enderta Awrajja, awraja in Tigray Province, Tigray. It is locate ...
. Rooms are for rent in the nearby Togogwa (
Debre Nazret Debre Nazret is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the Enderta (woreda), Inderta district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It belonged to Degua Tembien, Dogu'a Tembien up to January 2020. The ''tabia'' centre is in Togogwa town, located approximatel ...
), a place that hosts pilgrims on their way to the Dabba Hadera monastery.


More detailed information

For more details on environment, agriculture, rural sociology, hydrology, ecology, culture, etc., see the overall page on the
Dogu'a Tembien Dogu'a Tembien (, "Upper Tembien", sometimes transliterated as Degua Tembien or Dägʿa Tämben) is a woreda in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. It is named in part after the former province of Tembien. Nowadays, the mountainous district is part of the ...
district.


References

{{ Tabias (municipalities) of Dogu’a Tembien Dogu'a Tembien Populated places in the Tigray Region