The Siqurto foot tunnel crosses beneath the
Imba Tsiyon ridge, which forms the water divide between the
Giba and
Weri'i basins. The ridge is part of the
Mugulat Mountains,
Tigray
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 ...
,
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 ...
,
Design and construction
The tunnel was hewn in the
Adigrat Sandstone rock in the same period when
rock churches were built in Tigray.
During the period of
Italian occupation of Ethiopia, local people closed and hid the tunnel, forcing Italian troops and administrators to travel longer distances.
[Nyssen, J., Tesfaalem Ghebreyohannes, Hailemariam Meaza, Dondeyne, S., 2020. Exploration of a medieval African map (Aksum, Ethiopia) – How do historical maps fit with topography? In: De Ryck, M., Nyssen, J., Van Acker, K., Van Roy, W., Liber Amicorum: Philippe De Maeyer In Kaart. Wachtebeke (Belgium): University Press: 165-178.]
Location
The tunnel links
*
Nebelet and May Zerqu’it at the west
with
* Ga’ibien and
Adigrat
Adigrat ( , ''ʿaddigrat'', also called ʿAddi Grat) is a city and separate Districts of Ethiopia, woreda in Tigray Region of Ethiopia. It is located in the Misraqawi Zone at longitude and latitude , with an elevation of above sea level and below ...
at the east.
The use of the tunnel allows decreasing the travel distance on foot between Nebelet and Adigrat by 8 kilometres.
Usage
The tunnel is used daily by local farmers, with their donkeys, mules and oxen.
Upgrade works
The bottom was strengthened with steps and pavement.
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Siqurto foot tunnel
Buildings and structures in Ethiopia
Transport in Ethiopia
Pedestrian tunnels
Tourist attractions in Ethiopia