Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 164,529, of whom 82,199 are men and 82,330 women; none of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 53.91% of the population reporting that belief, 29.31% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 12.6% practiced traditional beliefs. [4]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 153,550 of whom 78,158 were men and 75,392 were women; 40,020 or 26.06% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Arba Minch Zuria were the Gamo (69.53%), the Amhara (7.94%), the Welayta (6.75%), the Zayse (6.02%), and the Oromo (3.64%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.28% of the population. Gamo is spoken as a first language by 65.77%, 16.97% Amharic, 5.93% Zergula, 5.13% Welayta, and 2.46% spoke Oromiffa; the remaining 3.74% spoke all other primary languages reported. [5]
The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region was a regional state in southwestern Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of five kililoch, called Regions 7 to 11, following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992. Its government was based in Hawassa.
Arba Minch is a city and separate woreda in the southern part of Ethiopia. "Arba Minch" means "40 Springs", originated from the presence of more than 40 springs. It is located in the Gamo Zone of the South Ethiopia Regional State, about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285 meters above sea level. It is the largest town in Gamo Zone. It is surrounded by Arba Minch Zuria woreda. This Town has plenty of natural gifts including the bridge of God, Crocodile ranch, crocodile market, different fruits and vegetables, different fishes farmed from Chamo and Abaya Lakes, more than 40 springs, different cereals, and crops, surprisingly having the two big Lakes in the country, lake Abaya and Chamo, respectively, next to Lake Tana, etc. This makes the town one of the tourist destinations in Ethiopia, which comprises Nech Sar National Park, home to the country's varied wildlife and plant species.
Chencha is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, 37 kilometers north of Arba Minch, Chencha has a longitude and latitude of 6°15′N37°34′E and an elevation of 2732 meters above sea level.
North Omo Zone was a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It was named after the Omo River, which flows in the western area of the former zone. In 2000 it was split into three zones: Dawro, Gamo Gofa, and Wolayita; and Basketo and Konta became special woredas.
Damot Weyde is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It is a part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Damot Weyde is bordered on the south by Hobicha, on the west by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by Damot Gale, on the north and northeast by Diguna Fango woredas. The administrative center of the woreda is Bedessa.
Damot Gale is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Damot Gale is bordered on the southwest by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by Boloso Sore and Damot Pulasa, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Diguna Fango, and on the southeast by Damot Weyde. The administrative center of Damot Gale is Boditi. Damot Pulasa woreda was separated from Damot Gale.
Shebedino is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Shebedino is bordered on the south by Dale, on the west by Boricha, on the north by Awasa Zuria, on the east by Gorche, and on the southeast by Wensho. Towns in Shebedino include Leku. Boricha and Gorche woredas were separated from Shebedino woreda.
Dale' is a woreda in Sidama Region, Ethiopia. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Dale is bordered on the south by Aleta Wendo and Chuko, on the west by Loko Abaya, on the northwest by Boricha, on the north by Shebedino, and on the east by Wensho. The major town in Dale is Irgalem, Irgalem. Parts of Dale woreda were separated to create Loko Abaya and Wensho woredas.
Boloso Sore is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Boloso Sore is bordered on the south by Sodo Zuria and Damot Sore, on the west by Boloso Bombe, on the northeast by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the northeast by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Damot Pulasa, and on the southeast by Damot Gale. The administrative center is at Areka. Boloso Bombe and Damot Sore woredas were separated from Boloso Sore.
Sodo Zuria is one of the woredas in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Sodo Zuria is bordered on the southwest by Offa, on the west by Kindo Koysha, on the northwest by Damot Sore, on the north by Boloso Sore, on the northeast by Damot Gale, on the east by Damot Weyde, on the west by Bayra Koysha and on the southeast by Humbo. Sodo city is an administrative center for Sodo Zuria woreda.
Offa is one of the woredas in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It is a Part of the Wolayita Zone. Offa is bordered on the south by the Gamo Zone, on the west by Kindo Didaye, on the north by Kindo Koysha, on the northeast by Sodo Zuria, on the north by Kawo Koysha and on the east by Humbo woredas. The administrative center of Offa is Gesuba. Western part of Offa was added to Kindo Didaye woreda in 1998 E.C.
Humbo is one of the woredas in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It is a Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Humbo is bordered on the southeast by Abala Abaya, on the south by the Gamo Zone, on the west by Offa, on the north by Sodo Zuria and Bayra Koysha. The administrative center of Humbo is Tebela.
Boreda Abaya was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Omo Zone, Boreda Abaya was bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the southwest by Chencha, on the west by Kucha, on the north by Humbo, and on the east by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region. Aruro Island, the largest island in Lake Abaya, was administratively part of this woreda. Towns in Boreda Abaya included Birbir and Zefene. Boreda Abaya was separated for Boreda and Mirab Abaya woredas.
Chencha is a woreda in South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Zone, Chencha is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the west by Dita & Gofa on the north by Kucha and Boreda, and on the east by Mirab Abaya. Towns in Chencha include Chencha, Dorze, Dokko and Ezo.
Bonke is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Bonke is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the west by the Weito River which separates it from Kemba, on the northwest by Deramalo, on the north by Dita, and on the east by Arba Minch Zuria. The major town in Bonke is Gerese.
Fentale is one of the districts in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the East Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Fentale is bordered on the southeast by the Arsi Zone, on the southwest by Boset, on the northwest by the Amhara Region, and on the northeast by the Afar Region. The administrative center of Fentale is Metehara; other towns include Haroo Adii.
Abaya is a woreda in the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is part of former Gelana Abaya woreda what was divided for Abaya and Gelana woredas. Part of the Borena Zone, Gelana Abaya was bordered on the south by Hagere Mariam, and on the west, north and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Lake Abaya, on the western border, is divided between this woreda and the SNNPR. However, the Guji Oromo who live in Nechisar National Park are claimed to be administratively part of this woreda, in a kebele called "Irgansaa".
Gamo Zone is a Zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. Gamo is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the southwest by Debub (South) Omo and the Basketo special woreda, on the northwest by Konta special woreda, on the north by Dawro and Wolayita, on the northeast by the Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by the Amaro special woreda. The administrative center of Gamo is Arba Minch.
Mirab Abaya is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Mirab Abaya is bordered on the east and south by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region on the east and Arba Minch Zuria on the south, on the west by Chencha, on the northwest by Borena, and on the north by the Wolayita Zone. Towns in Mirab Abaya include Birbir. Mirab Abaya was part of former Boreda Abaya woreda.
Dita is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Dita is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria and Bonke, on the west by Deramalo, on the north by Kucha, and on the east by Chencha. Towns in Dita include Zeda. Dita was part of former Dita Dermalo woreda.
