SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY ...
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY ...
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY ...
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1. Introduction<br />
1.1 General<br />
Bahir Dar is founded in the 14 th century along with the establishment of the Kidane<br />
Mihret church near lake Tana. The place was known as Bahir Dar Kidane Mihret until the<br />
17 th century. After the establishment of the St. George church however, the name was<br />
changed to Bahir Dar Giorgis which was in use until the advent of the Italians in the<br />
1930s. The Italians then abolished the administration of the area by the church and the<br />
town started to be simply known as Bahir Dar [15].<br />
According to NUPI 1996, the geographical location of Bahir Dar is at 11 0 38’ North<br />
latitude and 37 0 10’ East longitudes. The town is located at about 565 km North West of<br />
Addis Ababa and it lies in an area characterized by a general flat topography in the<br />
southern shore of lake Tana.<br />
Since Bahir Dar is an important center of Amhara National Regional state, development<br />
activities are flourishing and the town is expanding in all directions (except to lake Tana).<br />
According to the recent demarcation of the town, areas previously considered as rural<br />
‘Kebeles’ are now recognized as part of the town which significantly increases the total<br />
area of the boundary to 15,455 hectare [ Fig. 1,2 ].<br />
Previous rural kebeles demarcated recently as town are:<br />
Zenzelma<br />
Wereb<br />
Dishet Abaraj<br />
Weramit<br />
Sebatamit<br />
4,200 ha<br />
1,780 ha<br />
2,250 ha<br />
4,200 ha<br />
525 ha<br />
1