Amhara region

The Amhara region officially the Amhara National, Regional State is a regional state in northern Ethiopia and the homeland of the Amhara people. Its capital is Bahir Dar which is the seat of the Regional Government of Amhara.

For the history interested tourists there is a lot to discover. During the Ethiopian Empire, Amhara included several of the provinces which were ruled by native Ras or Negus. With the rise of the Solomonic Dynasty in 1270 under Emperor Yekuno Amlak and until the establishment of Gondar as the new imperial capital around 1600, the Debre-Birhan to Mekane-Selassie region was the primary seat of Wolloye-Shewan emperors. This period is significant in the formation of the medieval Ethiopian state, the spread and consolidation of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and propagating to some of the core provinces. Lake Tana in Bahir dar contains several islands who were the home of ancient Ethiopian emperors. Lake Tana is also the pioneer place in Ethiopia in relation to Christianity as it was the sheltering place for the holy family during the first century AD. The city of Lalibela is a place filled with history and mystery with awe of Christianity the churches are as if frozen in time. Another historical city is Gonder which is often called the ‘Camelot of Africa’ with its imperial palaces.

Amhara also has plenty to offer tourists who are interested in nature. It is the site of the largest inland body of water in Ethiopia, Lake Tana, which is one of the main sources of the Blue Nile. Other famous sites are Semien Mountains National Park, which includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia. Famous for its dramatic highland scenery and endemic wildlife, the Semien Mountains National Park constitutes a world heritage site.

Investment:
A major industry in Amhara is Agriculture. According to the Ethiopian government website, the Amhara Highlands receive 80% of Ethiopia’s total annual rainfall of and are the country’s most fertile and climatically hospitable region. About 90% of the Amhara are rural and make their living through farming, mostly in the Ethiopian highlands. Barley, corn, millet, wheat, sorghum, and teff, along with beans, peppers, chickpeas, and other vegetables, are the most important crops. In the highlands one crop per year is normal, while in the lowlands two are possible. Cattle, sheep, and goats are also raised.