Mekane Berhan
Encyclopedia
Mekane Berhan is a town in northern Ethiopia
. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone
of the Amhara Region
, Mekane Berhan has a latitude and longitude of 12°59′N 38°07′E with an elevation of approximately 2900 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Jan Amora
woreda
.
An all-weather road connects Mekane Berhan to Debarq
, which makes the town far more accessible than the rest of the woreda. The road's construction began in the late 1990s, and by 1999 85 kilometers had been completed; the remaining 20 kilometers were expected to be constructed the following year.
Mekane Berhan is best known as the location of the Derasge Mariam church where Tewodros II
was crowned emperor 11 February 1855. According to local tradition, following his victory over Wube Haile Maryam he discovered that Wube had prepared the church for his coronation as Emperor
and invited numerous dignitaries from all over Ethiopia, and since he planned on becoming Emperor, Tewodros decided not to let such elaborate preparations to waste and had himself crowned Emperor instead. Dervla Murphy
described her January 1967 visit to this town in her travel memoir In Ethiopia with a Mule.
in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 2,717, of whom 1,182 are men and 1,535 are women. The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 1584, of whom 622 were men and 962 were women.
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...
. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar Zone
Semien Gondar is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. This Zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century, which has often been used as a name for the 20th century province of Begemder....
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....
, Mekane Berhan has a latitude and longitude of 12°59′N 38°07′E with an elevation of approximately 2900 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Jan Amora
Jan Amora
Jan Amora is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Jan Amora is bordered on the south by Belessa, on the southwest by Wegera, on the west by Debarq, on the north by Addi Arkay, and on the east by Beyeda...
woreda
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...
.
An all-weather road connects Mekane Berhan to Debarq
Debarq
Debarq is a town in northern Ethiopia. Located 90 kilometers north of Gondar on the paved highway between Gondar and Axum and in the Semien Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, it has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2850 meters above sea level.Debarq is the closest town to the Semien...
, which makes the town far more accessible than the rest of the woreda. The road's construction began in the late 1990s, and by 1999 85 kilometers had been completed; the remaining 20 kilometers were expected to be constructed the following year.
Mekane Berhan is best known as the location of the Derasge Mariam church where Tewodros II
Tewodros II of Ethiopia
Tewodros II was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death....
was crowned emperor 11 February 1855. According to local tradition, following his victory over Wube Haile Maryam he discovered that Wube had prepared the church for his coronation as Emperor
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...
and invited numerous dignitaries from all over Ethiopia, and since he planned on becoming Emperor, Tewodros decided not to let such elaborate preparations to waste and had himself crowned Emperor instead. Dervla Murphy
Dervla Murphy
Dervla Murphy is an Irish touring cyclist and author of adventure travel books for over 40 years.Murphy is best known for her 1965 book Full Tilt: Ireland to India With a Bicycle, about an overland cycling trip through Europe, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India...
described her January 1967 visit to this town in her travel memoir In Ethiopia with a Mule.
Demographics
Based on figures from 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...
in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 2,717, of whom 1,182 are men and 1,535 are women. The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 1584, of whom 622 were men and 962 were women.