Historical & Natural
attraction
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Axum |
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Axum is a city in northern Ethiopia. Located in the central
Zone of the Tigray Region near the base of the Adwa mountains,
this town has a latitude and longitude of 14°07′N
38°44′E. It was the centre of the Axumite Kingdom,
which emerged around the time of the birth of Jesus and declined
after the 7th century due to unknown reasons, but contributed
to the shift of the power centre of the Ethiopian Empire further
inland. |
Lake Tana |
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Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile which floats from
there to the Soudan. Just 30 kilometers outside of Bahir Dar
are the famous Bleu Nile Falls. In Ethiopia they call it Tisissat,
which means "Water that Smokes.On the islands in the lake are
15th century Monasteries. One of them can only be visited by
men. The mural paintings in their churches represents beautifull
pieces of religious art. |
| The moncks show you their treasures and religious
manuscripts, written in Geez on goat and horse skin. Transport
is done on small wooden rafts but tourist can make a tour with
small boats. Bahir Dar is a city with many shops, bars and
small hotels. In some cafees is live traditional music were
musicians play the harp and sing. |
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Gonder |
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Gonder used to be the
capital city from 1666 to 1864, founded by Emperor Fasileados
who built magnificant palaces. Outside Gonder, in the valley
of Qaha he also built a palace overlooking a bath called
Emperor Fasil's bath.
His successors followed his example, and constructed smaller
castles within the same compound surrounded by a wall of basalt.
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The Church
of Debre Birhan Selassie (Abbey of the Light of Trinity),
built by the grandson of Fasil, has overwelming mural paintings
and the ceiling has the famous angel faces so often reproduced. |
Lalibela |
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It's the 8th world wonder. A small town
in the middle of the Ethiopian highlands. It's surrounded
by a rocky and dry area where just in the raining period
farmers can grow their crops. Once called Roha and the capital
of the Zagwe Dynasty wich ruled over Ethiopia from the 10th
century to the mid- 13th century. It was King Lalibela who
build the 13 rock-hewn churches. In it carvings, some of
saints other with mystical symbols. |
Like more episodes in the
long history of Ethiopia, there are a lot of legends about
this King. One is that his older brother poisoned him and
during a three days sleep he was brought to heaven, where
he was shown a city of rock-hewn churches which he replicated
and got a vision to create a new Jerusalem.
A small gorge is called The River Jordan and there is the tomb
of Abraham. The churches are connected to each other
by small passages and tunnels.Lalibela is a friendly town at an altitude
of 2700m |
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