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{{About|the modern region|the historical province|Tigray Province|other uses|Tigray (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Tigray Region | official_name = Tigray National Regional State | native_name = ክልል ትግራይ | native_name_lang = ti | settlement_type = [[Regions of Ethiopia|Regional state]] | image_skyline = | image_caption = From top, left to right: [[King Ezana's Stele]]; [[Obelisk of Axum]]; The Church of Abba Afse; Yeha; [[Debre Damo]] Church; Martyrs' Memorial Monument in [[Mekelle]]; [[Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion]] | image_flag = Flag of the Tigray Region.svg | image_seal = Tigray Regional government seal.svg | nickname = The birthplace of Ethiopian civilization | motto = "{{lang|ti|ዘይንድይቦ ጎቦ ዘይንሰግሮ ሩባ|italic=no}}"<br />{{small|"There are no mountains we would not climb"}} | image_map = Tigray in Ethiopia.svg | map_caption = Map of Ethiopia showing Tigray Region | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|14|7|28|N|38|43|26|E|region:ET-TI_adm1st|display=title,inline}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Ethiopia]] | seat_type = Capital | seat = [[Mekelle]] | established_title = | established_date = | government_type = [[Interim Regional Administration of Tigray]] | leader_title1 = [[List of governors of the Regions of Ethiopia|President of the Executive Committee]] | leader_name1 = [[Tadesse Werede]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=standard1 |first=Addis |date=2025-04-08 |title=Lt. Gen. Tadesse named Tigray's interim president |url=https://addisstandard.com/lt-gen-tadesse-named-tigrays-interim-president/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Addis Standard |language=en-US}}</ref> | leader_title2 = Vice-President of the Executive Committee | leader_name2 = [[Tsadkan Gebretensae]] | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = 53036 <!--Please discuss any proposed changes at the "How big is Tigray?" section of the Talk page. --> | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = 5th | area_footnotes = <ref name=2006_stats/> | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 5936000 | population_as_of = 2024 | population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ess.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Projected_Population-2024.pdf | title=opulation Size by Sex, Area and Density by Region, Zone and Wereda | date=July 2024}}</ref> | population_density_km2 = auto | population_rank = 4th | population_demonym = | population_note = | blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021) | blank_info_sec1 = 0.522 <ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|access-date=2020-09-10|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />{{color|#900|low}} · [[List of Ethiopian regions by Human Development Index|5th of 11]] | demographics_type1 = Demographics | demographics1_title1 = Official language | demographics1_title2 = Other languages | demographics1_title3 = Demonym | demographics1_info1 = [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]] | demographics1_info2 = | demographics1_info3 = [[Tigrayans|Tigrayan]] | timezone1 = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] | utc_offset1 = +3 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | area_code_type = | iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:ET|ET-TI]] | website = {{URL|https://www.ethiopia.gov.et/regional-states/tigray-regional-state/}} | footnotes = | mottoeng = | p2 = }} {{Contains special characters|Ethiopic}} The '''Tigray Region'''{{Efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=Tigray VOA pronunciation.ogg|ˈ|t|ɪ|g|r|aɪ}}, {{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Tigre from Ethiopia pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg|ˈ|t|ɪ|g|r|eː|}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|iː|ˈ|ɡ|r|eː|}}; {{Langx|ti|ክልል ትግራይ}}; {{Langx|am|ትግራይ ክልል|Tigrāi kilil }}|group=upper-alpha}} (or simply '''Tigray'''; officially the '''Tigray National Regional State'''){{Efn|{{Langx|ti|ብሔራዊ ክልላዊ መንግስቲ ትግራይ|Bəḥerawi Kəllelawi Mängəśti Təgrai}}; formerly known as '''Region 1'''.|group=upper-alpha}} is the northernmost [[Regions of Ethiopia|regional state]] in [[Ethiopia]]. The Tigray Region is the homeland of the [[Tigrayan]], [[Irob people|Irob]] and [[Kunama people]]. Its capital and largest city is [[Mekelle]]. Tigray is the fifth-largest by area, the fourth-most populous, and the fifth-most densely populated of the 11 regional states. Tigray is bordered by [[Eritrea]] to the north, the [[Amhara Region]] to the south, the [[Afar Region]] to the east, and [[Sudan]] to the west.<ref name="2009map">{{cite map|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|title=Eritrea and Ethiopia|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/eritrea_ethiopia_2009.jpg|year=2009|scale=1:5,000,000|id=Map #803395|access-date=5 May 2011|archive-date=22 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022121305/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/eritrea_ethiopia_2009.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> Towns in Tigrai include: [[Mekelle]], [[Adigrat]], [[Axum]], [[Shire (Tigray)|Shire]], [[Adwa]], [[Humera]], [[Dansha]], [[Mai Kadra]], [[Enticho]], [[Feresmay]], [[Wukro]], [[Agula'e]], [[Freweyni]], [[Korarit]], [[Adi Daero]], [[Ketema Ngus]], [[Adi Remets]], [[Sheraro]], [[Abiy Addi]], [[Atsbi]], [[Hawzen]], [[Adi Gudem|Adi Gudom]], [[Adi Shu]], [[Chercher province|Chercher]], [[Korem]], [[Maychew]], [[Alamata]], [[Mekoni]], [[Rama]], [[May Tsebri]], [[Addi Remets]], [[Hagere Selam (Degua Tembien)|Hagere Selam]], [[Dowhan]] and [[Zalambessa]]. Tigray's official language is [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]], similar to that of southern Eritrea. The Tigray region had an estimated pre-war population of 7,070,260.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-22 |title=New study of Tigray – violence and casualties during the war and after |url=https://martinplaut.com/2024/07/22/new-study-of-tigray-violence-and-casualties-during-the-war-and-after/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Martin Plaut |language=en}}</ref> The majority of the population (c. 80%) are farmers, contributing 46% to the regional gross domestic product (2009). The highlands have the highest population density, especially in [[Misraqawi Zone|eastern]] and [[Maekelay Zone|central]] Tigray. The much less densely populated lowlands comprise 48% of Tigray's area. Although the percentage of Muslims in Tigray is less than 5%, it has supposedly been historically Islam's doorway to the region and to Africa at large.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mellse |first=Merhawit |date=2021-07-31 |title=Tigray in History: A Pioneer of Religious Coexistence |url=https://omnatigray.org/tigray-in-history-a-pioneer-of-religious-coexistence/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Omna Tigray |language=en |archive-date=11 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211214519/https://omnatigray.org/tigray-in-history-a-pioneer-of-religious-coexistence/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Approximately 99% of [[Tigrayans]] are [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Orthodox Christian]]. Ethnic [[Tigrayans]] have the highest percentage of [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Orthodox Christians]] in the world. The government of Tigray consists of the [[executive branch]], led by the president, [[Getachew Reda]]; the [[legislative branch]], which comprises the state council; and the [[judicial branch]], which is led by the state supreme court. In early November 2020, a conflict between the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government (with support from Eritrea)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eritrean forces killed 100s of civilians in Tigray 'rampage': HRW|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/6/eritrean-soldiers-killed-hundreds-of-civilians-in-tigray-hrw|access-date=2021-05-25|publisher=Al Jazeera|language=en|archive-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307205051/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/6/eritrean-soldiers-killed-hundreds-of-civilians-in-tigray-hrw|url-status=live}}</ref> rapidly escalating into the [[Tigray War]], destabilizing the region,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-04|title=Tigray crisis: Ethiopia orders military response after army base seized|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54805088|access-date=2021-05-25|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119083309/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54805088|url-status=live}}</ref> and exposing a well-organized campaign to wipe out the region of ethnic Tigrayans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethiopian leaders said they would 'wipe out' Tigrayans: EU envoy |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/18/ethiopian-leaders-said-they-would-wipe-out-tigrayans-eu-envoy |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=30 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630163219/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/18/ethiopian-leaders-said-they-would-wipe-out-tigrayans-eu-envoy |url-status=live }}</ref> As many as 600,000 people [[Casualties of the Tigray War|were killed]] as a result of the war.<ref>{{Cite news |last=York |first=Geoffrey |date=2022-10-21 |title=Surge of dehumanizing hate speech points to mounting risk of mass atrocities in northern Ethiopia, experts say |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-surge-of-dehumanizing-hate-speech-points-to-mounting-risk-of-mass/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |archive-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022002129/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-surge-of-dehumanizing-hate-speech-points-to-mounting-risk-of-mass/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Volodzko |first=David |date=2022-05-10 |title=There's Genocide in Tigray, but Nobody's Talking About it |language=en-US |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/world/genocide-in-tigray/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |issn=0027-8378 |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108181011/https://www.thenation.com/article/world/genocide-in-tigray/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochab |first=Dr Ewelina U. |title=Heightened Risk Of Genocide Against Tigrayans In Ethiopia |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2022/10/26/ethiopia-heightened-risk-of-genocide-against-tigrayans/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108174002/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2022/10/26/ethiopia-heightened-risk-of-genocide-against-tigrayans/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2023, the region is run by the [[Interim Regional Administration of Tigray]]. == History == === 3rd millennium to 1st century BC === Tigray is often regarded as the cradle of Ethiopian civilization.<ref>{{cite web |last1=National Geographic |title=In search of the real Queen of Sheba, Legends and rumors trail the elusive Queen of Sheba through the rock-hewn wonders and rugged hills of Ethiopia. |website=[[National Geographic Society]] |date=3 December 2018 |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/mysterious-queen-sheba-legend-church-archaeology |access-date=4 August 2021 |archive-date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804123314/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/mysterious-queen-sheba-legend-church-archaeology }}</ref> Its landscape has many historic monuments. Three major monotheistic religions, [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]] arrived in Ethiopia through the [[Red Sea]] and then Tigray. Given the presence of a large temple complex and fertile surroundings, the capital of the 3,000-year-old kingdom of [[Dʿmt]] may have been near present-day [[Yeha]].<ref name="Thurstan612">{{citation|last=Shaw|first=Thurstan|title=The Archaeology of Africa: Food, Metals and Towns|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmUwjhQX-rcC&pg=PA612|year=1995|page=612|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-11585-8|access-date=10 July 2017|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327025526/https://books.google.com/books?id=TmUwjhQX-rcC&pg=PA612|url-status=live}}</ref> Dʿmt developed irrigation schemes, used the [[plough]], grew [[millet]], and made [[Iron Age|iron tools and weapons]]. Some modern historians, including Stuart Munro-Hay, Rodolfo Fattovich, Ayele Bekerie, [[Cain Felder]], and [[Ephraim Isaac]] consider this civilization to be indigenous, although [[Sabaeans|Sabaean]]-influenced due to the latter's dominance of the [[Red Sea]]. Others, including Joseph Michels, Henri de Contenson, Tekletsadik Mekuria, and Stanley Burstein, have viewed Dʿmt as the result of a mixture of Sabaean and indigenous peoples.<ref name="Munro-Hay57"/><ref name="Tihama">Nadia Durrani, ''The Tihamah Coastal Plain of South-West Arabia in its Regional context c. 6000 BC–AD 600 (Society for Arabian Studies Monographs No. 4)'', Oxford: Archaeopress, 2005, p. 121 {{ISBN|978-1-84171-894-1}}</ref> The most recent research, however, shows that [[Ge'ez language|Ge'ez]], the ancient Semitic language spoken in Tigray, Eritrea and northern Ethiopia in ancient times, is not likely to have been derived from [[Sabaean language|Sabaean]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of Semitic languages identifies an Early Bronze Age origin of Semitic in the Near East|first1=Andrew|last1=Kitchen|first2=Christopher|last2=Ehret|first3=Shiferaw|last3=Assefa|first4=Connie J.|last4=Mulligan|date=August 7, 2009|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume=276|issue=1668|pages=2703–2710|doi=10.1098/rspb.2009.0408|pmid=19403539|pmc=2839953}}</ref> There is evidence of a Semitic-speaking presence in Tigray, Eritrea and northern Ethiopia at least as early as 2000 BC.<ref name="Tihama"/><ref>Herausgegeben von Uhlig, Siegbert; ''Encyclopaedia Aethiopica'', "Ge'ez", Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2005, p. 732</ref> It is now believed that Sabaean influence was minor, limited to a few localities and disappearing after a few decades or a century, It may have represented a trading or military colony, in some sort of symbiosis or military alliance with the civilization of Dʿmt or some other proto-[[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksumite]] state.<ref name="Munro-Hay57"/><ref>{{Cite journal|title=The First Millennium BC in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia and South-Central Eritrea: A Reassessment of Cultural and Political Development|author=Phillipson, David W.|year=2009|journal=The African Archaeological Review|volume=26|issue=4|pages=257–274|doi=10.1007/s10437-009-9064-2|jstor=40389405|s2cid=154117777}}</ref> After the fall of Dʿmt in the 5th century BC, the plateau came to be dominated by smaller, unknown successor kingdoms. This lasted until the rise of one of these polities during the first century BC, the [[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksumite Kingdom]], which succeeded in reunifying the area<ref>Pankhurst, Richard K.P.; ''Addis Tribune'', "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060109162335/http://www.addistribune.com/Archives/2003/01/17-01-03/Let.htm Let's Look Across the Red Sea I]", 17 January 2003 (archive.org mirror copy)</ref> and is, in effect, the ancestor of medieval and modern states in Eritrea and Ethiopia using the name "Ethiopia" as early as the 4th century.<ref name="Munro-Hay57">{{cite book|url=http://www.dskmariam.org/artsandlitreature/litreature/pdf/aksum.pdf|title=Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity|publisher=University Press|year=1991 |location=Edinburgh|page=57|first=Stuart|last=Munro-Hay|access-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405215144/http://www.dskmariam.org/artsandlitreature/litreature/pdf/aksum.pdf|archive-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Paul B. Henze 2005">Henze, Paul B. (2005) ''Layers of Time: A History of Ethiopia'', {{ISBN|1-85065-522-7}}</ref>{{page needed|date=December 2024}} === 1st to 10th century AD === [[File:Stelenpark in Axum 2010.JPG|thumb|Axum Stele in the city [[Axum]].]] [[File:Ousas.jpg|thumb|Aksumite gold coins.]] The Kingdom of Aksum was a trading empire rooted in northern Ethiopia.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xeJMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA48|title=The Oxford Companion to Archaeology|date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press|page=48|author=Phillipson, David|isbn=978-0-19-973578-5|editor=Neil Asher Silberman}}</ref> It existed from approximately 100–940 AD, growing from the proto-Aksumite [[Iron Age]] period c. 4th century BC to achieve prominence by the 1st century AD. According to the ''[[Book of Axum]]'', Axum's first capital, Mazaber, was built by Itiyopis, son of Cush.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAIAAJ|title=Africa Geoscience Review|year=2003|publisher=Rock View International|page=366|access-date=10 July 2017|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327025552/https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The capital was later moved to [[Axum|Aksum]] in northern Ethiopia. The Empire of Aksum, at its height, at times extended across most of present-day [[Eritrea]], Ethiopia, [[Djibouti]], Sudan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The capital city of the empire was [[Axum]], now in northern Ethiopia. Today a smaller community, the city of Axum was once a bustling metropolis and a cultural and economic hub. Two hills and two streams lie on the east and west expanses of the city; perhaps providing the initial impetus for settling this area. Along the hills and plain outside the city, the Aksumites had cemeteries with elaborate grave stones, which are called [[stelae]], or [[obelisk]]s. Other important cities included [[Yeha]], [[Hawulti-Melazo]], [[Matara, Eritrea|Matara]], [[Adulis]], and [[Qohaito]], the last three of which are now in Eritrea. By the reign of [[Endubis]] in the late 3rd century, Aksum had begun minting its own currency and was named by [[Mani (prophet)|Mani]] as one of the four great powers of his time, along with [[History of China|China]] and the [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid]] and [[Roman Empire|Roman]] empires. It converted to [[Christianity]] in 325 or 328 under [[Ezana of Axum|King Ezana]] and was the first state to use the image of [[crucifix|the cross]] on its coins.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aksum |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/15 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828225403/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/15 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mountain Constantines: The Christianization of Aksum and Iberia1 |url=http://users.clas.ufl.edu/sterk/junsem/haas.pdf |website=users.clas.ufl.edu |access-date=10 July 2017 |archive-date=29 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329065343/http://users.clas.ufl.edu/sterk/junsem/haas.pdf }}</ref> [[File:19th cent Tigray map.png|thumb|Handtke's map is 39 cm wide and 66 cm tall, and is printed on paper that has been bonded to fabric. The scale is approximately 1:5,600,000; relief is shown by short lines representing slope aspect and a general sense of steepness (hachures).The work was created in one of the few stronger cartographic publishing houses in 19thcentury Germany, managed by Carl Flemming (1806–1878). Flemming was aided by cartographer Friedrich Handtke (1815–1879), who worked on nearly every map assignment for the firm.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Composite: NO Afrika. |url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~33543~1171029:Composite--NO-Afrika- |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=www.davidrumsey.com |language=en |archive-date=12 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212061136/https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~33543~1171029:Composite--NO-Afrika- |url-status=live }}</ref>]] === 11th to 19th century AD === [[File:ET Mekele asv2018-01 img26 Atse Yohannes Museum.jpg|thumb|[[Mekelle]] palace of Emperor [[Yohannes IV]] (emperor of the whole [[Ethiopian Empire]]).]] In the 11th century the Tigrinya-speaking lands (Tigray-[[Medri Bahri|Mareb Melash]]) were divided into two provinces, separated by the Mereb River, by the newly enthroned Agaw emperors. The governor of the northern province received the title Bahre Negash (Ruler of the sea), whereas the governor of the southern province was given the title of Tigray Mekonen (Lord of Tigray). The Portuguese Jesuit Emanuele Baradas's work titled "Do reino de Tigr", written in 1633–34, states that the "Reino de Tigr" (Kingdom of Tigray) extended from [[Hamasien]] to [[History of Tembien|Temben]], from the borders of [[Danakil Depression|Dankel]] to the [[Adwa]] mountain. He also stated that Tigray-Mereb Melash was divided into 24 smaller political units (principalities), twelve of which were located south of the Mereb and governed by the Tigray Mekonen, based in [[Enderta Province|Enderta]]. The other twelve were located north of the Mereb, under the authority of the [[Medri Bahri|Bahre Negash]], based in the district of [[Serae]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Divided Histories, Opportunistic Alliances: Background Notes on the Ethiopian-Eritrean War|author=Trivelli, Richard M.|year=1998|journal=Africa Spectrum|volume=33|issue=3|pages=257–289 [259]|jstor=40174776}}</ref> The ''[[Book of Aksum]]'', written and compiled mainly in the period from the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries, shows a traditional schematic map of Tigray with the city of [[Aksum]] at its center, surrounded by the 13 principal provinces: "Tembien, Shire, Serae, Hamasien, [[Buri province|Bur]], Sam'a, [[Agame]], Amba Senayt, [[Gar'alta|Garalta]], [[Enderta Province|Enderta]], Sahart and Abergele."<ref>[[Richard Pankhurst (academic)|Richard Pankhurst]], ''History of Ethiopian Towns'' (Wiesbaden; Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1, p. 201</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2022}} During the Middle Ages, the position of Tigray Mekonnen ("Governor of Tigray") was established to rule over the area. Other districts included [[Akkele Guzay|Akele Guzay]] (now part of [[Eritrea]]), and the kingdom of the [[Bahr negus]], who ruled much of what is now Eritrea and [[Shire, Ethiopia|Shire]] district and town in Western Tigray. At the time when Tigray Mekonnen existed simultaneously with that of Bahr negus, their frontier seems to have been the [[Mareb River]], which is currently constitutes the border between the Ethiopian province of Tigray and Eritrea. After the loss of power of the Bahr negus in the aftermath of [[Bahr negus Yeshaq]]'s rebellions, {{failed verification span|text=the title of Tigray mekonnen gained power in relation to the Bahr negus and at times included ruling over parts of what is now Eritrea, especially in the 19th century.|date=January 2022}}<ref>{{Cite book|first=Richard|last=Pankhurst|author-link=Richard Pankhurst (historian)|title=An Introduction to the Economic History of Ethiopia|publisher=London: Lalibela House|date=1962|page=328|ol=OL5876132M}}</ref> By the unsettled [[Zemene Mesafint]] period ("Era of the Princes"), both designations had declined to little more than empty titles, and the lord who succeeded them used (and received from the Emperor) the title of either [[Ras (title)|Ras]] or [[Dejazmach]], beginning with Ras [[Mikael Sehul]]. Rulers of Tigray such as Ras [[Wolde Selassie]] alternated with others, chiefly those of [[Begemder]] or [[Yejju]], as warlords to maintain the Ethiopian monarchy during the Zemene Mesafint. In the mid-19th century, the lords of Tembien and Enderta managed to establish an overlordship of Tigray. One of its members, Dejazmach Kahsay Mercha, ascended the imperial throne in 1872 under the name [[Yohannes IV]]. Following his 1889 death in the [[Battle of Metemma]], the Ethiopian throne came under the control of the king of [[Shewa]], and the center of power shifted south and away from Tigray.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} === 20th century === In 1943, a rebellion [[Woyane rebellion|broke out]] all over southern and eastern Tigray under the slogan, "there is no government; let's organize and govern ourselves". Throughout Enderta Awraja, including [[Mekelle]], Didibadergiajen, [[Hintalo]], Saharti, [[Samre, Ethiopia|Samre]] and Wajirat, Raya Awraja, Kilte-Awlaelo Awraja and Tembien Awraja, local assemblies, called gerreb, were formed. The gerreb sent representatives to a central congress, called the shengo, which elected leaders and established a military command system. Although the first [[Woyane rebellion]] of 1943 had shortcomings as a prototype revolution, historians agree that it involved a fairly high level of spontaneity and peasant initiative. It demonstrated considerable popular participation and reflected widely shared grievances. The uprising was specifically directed against the central "Shoan Amhara" regime of [[Haile Selassie|Haile Selassie I]] to rile support, despite Tigrayan imperial elite being collaborators and beneficiaries of the regime. ==== Ethiopian Civil War ==== [[File:ET Mekele asv2018-01 img15 Martyrs Memorial.jpg|thumb|Memorial in Mekelle to more than 60,000 TPLF fighters who died and over 100,000 fighters who were injured in the overthrow of the Marxist [[Derg]] regime in 1991.]] Following the outbreak of the [[Ethiopian Revolution]] in February 1974, the first signal of any mass uprising was the actions of the soldiers of the 4th Brigade of the 4th Army Division in Nagelle in southern Ethiopia. The Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, or the [[Derg]] ([[Ge'ez language|Ge'ez]] "Committee"), was officially announced 28 June 1974 by a group of military officers. The committee elected Major [[Mengistu Haile Mariam]] as its chairman and Major [[Atnafu Abate]] as its vice-chairman. In July 1974, the Derg obtained key concessions from the emperor, Haile Selassie, which included the power to arrest not only military officers but government officials at every level. Soon both former Prime Ministers [[Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold]] and [[Endelkachew Makonnen|Endalkachew Makonnen]], along with most of their cabinets, most regional governors, many senior military officers and officials of the Imperial court were imprisoned. In August 1974, after a proposed constitution creating a constitutional monarchy was presented to the emperor, the Derg began a program of dismantling the imperial government in order to forestall further developments in that direction. The Derg [[1974 Ethiopian coup d'état|deposed and imprisoned the emperor on 12 September 1974]]. [[File:Nest box for Columba guinea in Zerfenti.jpg|thumb|Nest box for ''[[Speckled pigeon|Columba guinea]]'' (considered a symbol of peace) in the wall of a homestead in [[Zerfenti]], a village in Tigray where hundreds were killed by Derg bombings.]] In addition, the Derg in 1975 nationalized most industries and private and somewhat secure urban real-estate holdings. But mismanagement, corruption, and general hostility to the Derg's violent rule, coupled with the draining effects of constant warfare with the separatist guerrilla movements in Tigray, led to a drastic fall in general productivity of food and cash crops. In October 1978, the Derg announced the National Revolutionary Development Campaign to mobilize human and material resources to transform the economy, which led to a Ten-Year Plan (1984/85–1993/94) to expand agricultural and industrial output, forecasting a 6.5% growth in GDP and a 3.6% rise in per capita income. Instead per capita income declined 0.8% over this period. Famine scholar [[Alex de Waal]] observes that while the [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|famine]] that struck the country in the mid-1980s is usually ascribed to drought, "closer investigation shows that widespread drought occurred only some months after the famine was already under way". Hundreds of thousands fled economic misery, conscription, and political repression, and went to live in neighboring countries and all over the [[Western world]], creating an Ethiopian [[diaspora]]. Toward the end of January 1991, a coalition of rebel forces, the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]] (EPRDF) captured [[Gondar]], the ancient capital city, [[Bahar Dar]], and [[Dessie]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} ==== Postwar ==== John Young, who visited the area several times in the early 1990s, attributes this delay in part to "central budget restraint, structural readjustment, and lack of awareness by government bureaucrats in [[Addis Ababa]] of conditions in the province", but notes "an equally significant obstacle was posed by an entrenched, and largely Oromo and Southern-dominated, central bureaucracy which used its power to block government-authorized funds from reaching Tigray".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Young|first1=John|title=Peasant Revolution in Ethiopia: The Tigray People's Liberation Front, 1975–1991|date=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-02606-2|page=197|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9LX8UpI97MC&pg=PA197|access-date=13 November 2020|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327025546/https://books.google.com/books?id=S9LX8UpI97MC&pg=PA197|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, a growing urban middle class of traders, businessmen and government officials emerged that was suspicious of and distant from the victorious EPRDF.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} From 1991 to 2001, the president of Tigray was [[Gebru Asrat]]. In 1998, [[Eritrean-Ethiopian War|war erupted between Eritrea and Ethiopia]] over a portion of territory that had been administered as part of Tigray, which included the town of [[Badme]]. A 2002 [[United Nations]] decision awarded much of this land to Eritrea, but Ethiopia did not accept the ruling until 2018, when a [[2018 Eritrea–Ethiopia summit|bilateral agreement]] ended the [[Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict|border conflict]]. The text of this agreement has not been publicly availed. === 21st century === {{Expand section|date=December 2022}} From 2001 to 2010 the president was [[Tsegay Berhe]]. ==== 2020 administrative reorganisation ==== Between 2018 and 2020, as part of a reform aimed to deepen and strengthen decentralisation, woredas were reorganised, and new boundaries established. As smaller towns had been growing, they had started providing a larger range of services, such as markets and even banks, that encouraged locals to travel there rather than to their formal woreda centre. However, these locals still had to travel to their local woreda centre for most local government services – often in a different direction. In 2018 and 2019, after multiple village discussions that were often vigorous in the more remote areas, 21 independent urban administrations were added and other boundaries re-drawn, resulting in an increase from 35 to 88 woredas in January 2020.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} ==== Tigray War ==== {{main|Tigray War}} Following the [[2020 Tigray regional election]], on 4 November, after the attacks by TDF on Northern Command units in Tigray and missiles sent to Eritrea, the Ethiopian and Eritrean militaries launched counterattacks. Ethiopian forces advanced through southern Tigray, while Eritrean troops occupied northern border towns.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-11-04|title=Tigray crisis: Ethiopia orders military response after army base seized|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54805088|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119083309/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54805088|url-status=live}}</ref> Warfare, the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia]], and a [[2019–20 locust infestation|locust outbreak]] contributed to an [[famine in the Tigray War|emergency food situation in the region]] by January [[2021 in Ethiopia|2021]]. Approximately two million people faced food shortages, with a critical situation in [[Shire Inda Selassie]], hosting 100,000 refugees. The [[Famine Early Warning Systems Network]] indicated that parts of central and eastern Tigray were likely in emergency phase 4, a step below famine.<ref>{{cite news |title='Extreme urgent need': Starvation haunts Ethiopia's Tigray |url=https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-united-nations-kenya-ef0b6b2db2994d4c3042cf19f3d92a2a |access-date=January 17, 2021 |work=AP NEWS |date=17 January 2021 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117090044/https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-united-nations-kenya-ef0b6b2db2994d4c3042cf19f3d92a2a |url-status=live }}</ref> ==== After the Tigray War ==== After the [[Tigray war|Tigray War (2020–2022)]], which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths, the Tigray region faced ongoing instability. A peace agreement in November 2022 led to the formation of an interim administration, but the region struggled with implementing key provisions, such as the return of displaced people. In 2025, tensions resurfaced when Tigray’s interim president, [[Getachew Reda]], fled to [[Addis Ababa]] after a faction led by former [[Tigray People's Liberation Front|TPLF]] leader [[Debretsion Gebremichael]] seized control. The power struggle sparked fears of renewed conflict. In response, [[Abiy Ahmed|Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed]] invited [[Tigrayans]] to suggest a new leader via email and extended the interim administration’s mandate. This development followed internal struggles, including a coup attempt and clashes, as well as growing concerns over tensions with neighboring [[Eritrea]], which added to the regional instability.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harter |first=Fred |date=2025-03-21 |title=Power struggle leads to coup in Tigray as war looms between Ethiopia and Eritrea |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/mar/21/tigray-mekelle-coup-war-ethiopia-eritrea-assab-port-abiy-ahmed |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-26 |title=Getachew Reda: Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed to replace Tigray president amid fears of war |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkml1d206po |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> == Geography == === Location and size === Tigray is situated between 12° – 15°N and 36° 30' – 40° 30'E. A 2006 national statistics report stated the land area as {{cvt|50079|km2}}.<ref name="2006_stats">{{cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=Tigray-Boundry-Before-and-After-Derg |url=https://www.aigaforum.com/amharic-article-2018/Tigray-Boundry-Before-and-After-Derg-part1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221092920/http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/national%20statistics%202005/Population.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2007 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |publisher=[[hidaseethiopia]]}}</ref> The 2011 National Statistics gave an area of {{cvt|41410|km2}}, but the sum of the figures it gave for the Tigray zones was substantially different,<ref name=2011_stats>{{Cite web |url=http://www.csa.gov.et/images/documents/pdf_files/nationalstatisticsabstract/2011/2011%20population.pdf |title=2011 National Statistics |publisher=[[Central Statistical Agency]] |access-date=2014-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211414/http://www.csa.gov.et/images/documents/pdf_files/nationalstatisticsabstract/2011/2011%20population.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-23 }}</ref> rendering the 2011 report internally inconsistent. The figure of 53,036 km<sup>2</sup> (20,477 sq mi) is supported by the [[Google Maps]] area calculator demonstrated in [https://www.aigaforum.com/amharic-article-2018/Tigray-Boundry-Before-and-After-Derg-part1.pdf this article]. === Geology === ==== Overview ==== The [[East African Orogeny]] led to the growth of a mountain chain in the [[Precambrian]] (up to 800 Ma [million years ago]), which was largely eroded afterwards.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sembroni |first1=A. |last2=Molin |first2=P. |last3=Dramis |first3=F. |title=Regional geology of the Dogu'a Tembien massif. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Abbate |first1=E |last2=Bruni |first2=P. |last3=Sagri |first3=M. |title=Geology of Ethiopia: a review and geomorphological perspectives. In: Billi, P. (ed.), Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia |date=2015 |publisher=Springer Netherlands |pages=33–64 |doi=10.1007/978-94-017-8026-1_2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Swanson-Hysell |first1=N. |last2=Maloof |first2=A. |last3=Condon |first3=D. |last4=Jenkin |first4=G. |last5=Alene |first5=M. |last6=Tremblay |first6=M. |last7=Tesema |first7=T. |last8=Rooney |first8=A. |last9=Haileab |first9=B. |title=Stratigraphy and geochronology of the Tambien Group, Ethiopia: Evidence for globally synchronous carbon isotope change in the Neoproterozoic |journal=Geology |year=2015 |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=323–326 |doi=10.1130/G36347.1 |bibcode=2015Geo....43..323S |s2cid=53351630 |url=http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/510181/1/Tambien2015.pdf |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203232414/http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/510181/1/Tambien2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Around 600 Ma, the [[Gondwana]] break-up led to the presence of [[Tectonics|tectonic structures]] and a [[Palaeozoic]] [[planation surface]], that extents to the north and west of the [[Dogu'a Tembien]] massif.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sembroni |first1=A. |last2=Molin |first2=P. |last3=Dramis |first3=F. |last4=Abebe |first4=B. |title=Geology of the Tekeze River basin (Northern Ethiopia). |journal=Journal of Maps |year=2017 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=621–631 |doi=10.1080/17445647.2017.1351907 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2017JMaps..13..621S }}</ref> Subsequently, there was the deposition of [[sedimentary]] and [[volcanic]] formations, from older (at the foot of the massif) to younger, near the summits. From Palaeozoic to [[Triassic]], Tigray was located near the South Pole. The (reactivate) Precambrian extensional faults guided the deposition of [[Till|glacial sediments]] ([[Edaga Arbi Glacials]] and [[Enticho Sandstone]]). Later alluvial plain sediments were deposited ([[Adigrat Sandstone]]). The break-up of Gondwana ([[Late Palaeozoic]] to [[Early Triassic]]) led to an extensional [[tectonic phase]], what caused the lowering of large parts of the [[Horn of Africa]]. As a consequence a [[marine transgression]] occurred, leading to the deposition of [[marine sediments]] ([[Antalo Limestone]] and Agula Shale).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bosellini |first1=A. |last2=Russo |first2=A. |last3=Fantozzi |first3=P. |last4=Assefa |first4=G. |last5=Tadesse |first5=S. |title=The Mesozoic succession of the Mekelle Outlier (Tigrai Province, Ethiopia). |journal=Mem. Sci. Geol. |year=1997 |volume=49 |pages=95–116}}</ref> The region has an estimated 3.89 billion tons of mostly "excellent" quality [[oil shale]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yihdego |first1=Yohannes |last2=Salem |first2=Hilmi S. |last3=Kafui |first3=Bediaku G. |last4=Veljkovic |first4=Zarko |title=Economic geology value of oil shale deposits: Ethiopia (Tigray) and Jordan |journal=Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects |date=2 September 2018 |volume=40 |issue=17 |pages=2079–2096 |doi=10.1080/15567036.2018.1488015 |s2cid=104706561 }}</ref> [[File:Antalo_Limestone_cliff_in_Mishlam.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Antalo Limestone]] cliff at Mishlam in the southeastern part of Dogu'a Tembien]] At the end of the [[Mesozoic]] tectonic phase, a new ([[Cretaceous]]) planation took place. After that, the deposition of continental sediments ([[Amba Aradam Formation]]) indicates the presence of less shallow seas, probably caused by a regional uplift. At the beginning of the [[Caenozoic]], there was a relative tectonic quiescence, during which the Amba Aradam Sandstones were partially eroded, which led to the formation of a new planation surface.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sembroni |first1=A. |last2=Molin |first2=P. |last3=Dramis |first3=F. |last4=Faccenna |first4=C. |last5=Abebe |first5=B. |title=Erosion-tectonics feedbacks in shaping the landscape: An example from the Mekele Outlier (Tigray, Ethiopia) |journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences |year=2017 |volume=129 |pages=870–886 |doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.02.028 |bibcode=2017JAfES.129..870S }}</ref> In the [[Eocene]], the Afar [[Mantle plume|plume]], a broad regional uplift, deformed the [[lithosphere]], leading to the eruption of [[flood basalt]]s. Three major formations may be distinguished: [[Ashangi Basalts|lower basalts]], [[Intra-volcanic sedimentary rock in North Ethiopia|interbedded lacustrine deposits]] and [[Alaji Basalts|upper basalts]].<ref name="miruts2019"/> Almost at the same time, the Mekelle [[Dolerite]] intruded into the Mesozoic sediments, following joints and [[Fault (geology)|faults]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tefera |first1=M. |last2=Chernet |first2=T. |last3=Haro |first3=W. |title=Geological Map of Ethiopia (1:2,000,000). |publisher=Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey |location=Addis Ababa, Ethiopia}}</ref> A new magma intrusion occurred in the [[Early Miocene]], which gave rise to [[Phonolite series in North Ethiopia|phonolite]] plugs, mainly in the Adwa area and also in Dogu'a Tembien.<ref name="miruts2019">{{cite book |last1=Miruts Hagos and colleagues |title=The volcanic rock cover of the Dogu'a Tembien massif. In: Geo-Trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains, the Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |url-status=live }}</ref> The present geomorphology is marked by deep valleys, eroded as a result of the regional uplift. Throughout the [[Quaternary]], deposition of [[alluvium]] and freshwater [[tufa]] occurred in the valley bottoms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Moeyersons |first1=J. and colleagues |title=Age and backfill/overfill stratigraphy of two tufa dams, Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia: Evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene wet conditions. |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |year=2006 |volume=230 |issue=1–2 |pages=162–178 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.07.013 |bibcode=2006PPP...230..165M }}</ref> ==== Fossils ==== In Tigray, there are two main fossil-bearing geological units. The [[Antalo Limestone]] ([[upper Jurassic]]) is the largest. Its marine deposits comprise mainly [[benthic]] [[marine invertebrates]]. Also, the [[Tertiary]] [[lacustrine deposits]], interbedded in the [[basalt]] formations, contain a range of [[silicified]] [[mollusc]] fossils.<ref name="lerouge&aerts">{{cite book |last1=Lerouge |first1=F. |last2=Aerts |first2=R. |title=Fossil evidence of Dogu'a Tembien's environmental past. In: Geo-Trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains, the Dogu'a Tembien District. |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[Antalo Limestone]]: large ''[[Paracenoceratidae]]'' [[cephalopods]] ([[nautilus]]); ''[[Nerineidae]]'' indet.; [[sea urchins]]; [[Rhynchonellid]] [[brachiopod]]; [[crustaceans]]; [[coral colonies]]; [[crinoid]] stems.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kiessling |first1=W. |last2=Kumar |first2=D. |last3=Schemm-Gregory |first3=M. |last4=Mewis |first4=H. |last5=Aberhan |first5=M |title=Marine benthic invertebrates from the Upper Jurassic of northern Ethiopia and their biogeographic affinities |journal=J Afr Earth Sci |year=2011 |volume=59 |issue=2–3 |pages=195–214 |doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2010.10.006 |bibcode=2011JAfES..59..195K }}</ref><ref name="lerouge&aerts"/> In the Tertiary [[Intra-volcanic sedimentary rock in North Ethiopia|silicified lacustrine deposits]]: ''[[Pila (gastropod)]]''; ''[[Lanistes]]'' sp.; ''[[Pirenella conica]]''; and land snails (''[[Achatinidae]]'' indet.).<ref name="lerouge&aerts"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Merla |first1=G. |last2=Minucci |first2=E. |title=Missione geologica nel Tigrai |date=1938 |publisher=R. Accad. Ital. |location=Rome (Italy)}}</ref> All snail shells, both fossil and recent, are called ''t'uyo'' in [[Tigrinya language]], which means '[[helicoidal]]'. ==== Traditional uses of rock ==== As Tigray holds a wide variety of [[rock types]], there is expectedly a varied use of rock. :* '''Natural [[stone masonry]]'''. Preferentially, the easier shaped [[limestone]] and [[sandstone]] are used to build homesteads and churches, but particularly in the upland areas, [[basalt]] is also used. Traditionally, fermented mud will be used as mortar :* '''Fencing''' of homesteads, generally in [[dry stone]]s :* '''Church bells''', generally three elongated plates in [[phonolite]] or [[clinkstone]], with different tonalities :* '''Milling stone''': for this purpose plucked-bedrock pits, small [[rock-cut basin]]s that naturally occur in rivers with [[Kolk (vortex)|kolk]]s, are excavated from the river bed and further shaped. [[Mill (grinding)|Milling]] is done at home using an elongated small boulder<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Nixon-Darcus |first1=L.A. |title=The cultural context of food grinding equipment in Northern Ethiopia: an ethnoarchaeological approach. PhD thesis |year=2014 |publisher=Simon Frazer University |location=Canada |url=http://summit.sfu.ca/item/14597 |type=Thesis |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926222517/http://summit.sfu.ca/item/14597 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gebre Teklu |title=Ethnoarchaeological study of grind stones at Lakia'a in Adwa, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia. PhD diss. |date=2012 |publisher=Addis Ababa University |url=http://213.55.95.56/bitstream/handle/123456789/439/Gebre%20Teklu.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203232004/http://213.55.95.56/bitstream/handle/123456789/439/Gebre%20Teklu.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref> :* Door and window '''[[lintels]]''', prepared from rock types that frequently have an elongated shape ([[sandstone]], [[phonolite]], [[limestone]]), or that are easily shaped ([[tufa]]) :* '''Troughs for livestock''' [[watering]] and feeding, generally hewn from [[tufa]] :* '''Footpath [[Sidewalk|paving]]''', generally done as [[community service|community work]]. Some very ancient paved [[footpaths]] occur on major communication lines dating back to the period before the introduction of the automobile :* foot travellers stop, pray and put an additional stone :* Stones collected from farmlands in order to free space for the crop, and heaped in typical '''rounded metres-high heaps''', called ''zala'' :* '''[[Contour bunding]]''' or ''gedeba'': [[Terrace (agriculture)|terrace]] walls in [[dry stone]], typically laid out along the contour for sake of [[soil conservation]] :* '''[[Check dam]]s''' or ''qetri'' in [[gullies]] for sake of [[gully erosion]] control :* '''[[Cobble stone]]s''', used for paving secondary streets in the towns. Generally [[limestone]] is used. ==== Major mountains ==== :* [[Ferrah Imba]], 3954 metres,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hendrickx |first1=Hanne |last2=Jacob |first2=Miro |last3=Frankl |first3=Amaury |last4=Nyssen |first4=Jan |title=Glacial and periglacial geomorphology and its paleoclimatological significance in three North Ethiopian Mountains, including a detailed geomorphological map |journal=Geomorphology |date=October 2015 |volume=246 |pages=156–167 |doi=10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.05.005 |bibcode=2015Geomo.246..156H }}</ref> summit of the [[Tsibet]] massif in [[Endamekoni]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|12|50|34|N|39|31|03|E|type:landmark}}), and highest peak of Tigray :* [[Amba Alagi|Imba Alaje]], 3438 metres, in [[Alaje]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|12|59|39|N|39|30|13|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Mugulat]], 3263 metres, in [[Ganta Afeshum]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|14|16|N|39|25|E|type:landmark}}); one of its spurs is crossed by the [[Siqurto foot tunnel]] :* [[Asimba]], 3199 metres, in [[Irob (Ethiopian District)|Irob]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|14|26|N|39|36|E|type:landmark}}) :* Upper plateaus of the [[Atsbi Horst]] at 3057 metres in [[Atsbi Wenberta]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|14|03|N|39|43|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Maebino]], 3031 metres, in [[Irob (Ethiopian District)|Irob]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|14|27|N|39|33|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Imba Tsion]], 2917 metres, in [[Hawzen]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|14|06|N|39|26|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Ekli Imba]], 2799 metres, summit of the [[Arebay]] massif in [[Degua Tembien]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|13|43|N|39|16|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Amba Aradam|Imba Aradom]] – sometimes transliterated as [[Amba Aradam]], 2756 metres, in [[Hintalo Wajirat]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|13|20|N|39|31|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Soloda]], 2436 metres, part of the [[Adwa plugs]] in [[Adwa]] ''woreda'' ({{coord|14|11|N|38|54|E|type:landmark}}) :* [[Imba Neway]], 2388 metres, in [[Abergele (woreda)]]({{coord|13|16|N|38|57|E|type:landmark}}) === Water challenge === [[File:Leakage from Gereb Segen dam.jpg|thumb|right|Regularised stream, fed by Gereb Segen dam]]Overall, the region is [[semi-arid]]. The [[wet season]] lasts only for a couple of months. The farmers are adapted to this, but the problem arises when rains are less than normal. Another major challenge is providing water to urban areas. Smaller towns, but particularly Mekelle, face endemic [[water shortage]]s. [[Reservoirs]] have been built, but their management is sub-optimal. === Wildlife === ==== Large mammals ==== [[File:Large mammals of Dogu'a Tembien.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]] Besides [[elephant]]s in [[Western Tigray]] and the endemic [[gelada baboon]] on the highest mountains, large mammals in the region, with scientific (italics), English and [[Tigrinya language]] names, are:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Aerts |first1=Raf |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |title=Forest and woodland vegetation in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |access-date=18 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Div col}} * ''Cercopithecus aethiops''; [[grivet]] monkey, ወዓግ ({{transliteration|ti|wi'ag}}) * ''Crocuta crocuta'', [[spotted hyena]], ዝብኢ ({{transliteration|ti|zibi}}) * ''Caracal caracal'', [[caracal]], ጭክ ኣንበሳ ({{transliteration|ti|ch'ok anbessa}}) * ''Panthera pardus'', [[leopard]], ነብሪ ({{transliteration|ti|nebri}}) * ''Xerus rutilus'', [[unstriped ground squirrel]], ምጹጽላይ or ጨጨራ ({{transliteration|ti|mitsutsilay}}, {{transliteration|am|chechera}}) * ''Canis mesomelas'', [[black-backed jackal]], ቡኳርያ ({{transliteration|ti|bukharya}}) * ''Canis anthus'', [[golden jackal]], ቡኳርያ ({{transliteration|ti|bukharya}}) * ''Papio hamadryas'', [[hamadryas baboon]], ጋውና ({{transliteration|ti|gawina}}) * ''Procavia capensis'', [[rock hyrax]], ጊሐ ({{transliteration|ti|gihè}}) * ''Felis silvestris'', [[African wildcat]], ሓክሊ ድሙ ({{transliteration|ti|hakili dummu}}) * ''Civettictis civetta'', [[African civet]], ዝባድ ({{transliteration|ti|zibad}}) * ''Papio anubis'', [[olive baboon]], ህበይ ({{transliteration|ti|hibey}}) * ''Ichneumia albicauda'', [[white-tailed mongoose]], ፂሒራ ({{transliteration|ti|tsihira}}) * ''Herpestes ichneumon'', [[large grey mongoose]], ፂሒራ ({{transliteration|ti|tsihira}}) * ''Hystrix cristata'', [[crested porcupine]], ቅንፈዝ ({{transliteration|ti|qinfiz}}) * ''Oreotragus oreotragus''; [[klipspringer]], ሰስሓ ({{transliteration|ti|sesiha}}) * ''Orycteropus afer'', [[aardvark]], ፍሒራ ({{transliteration|ti|fihira}}) * ''Genetta genetta'', [[common genet]], ስልሕልሖት ({{transliteration|ti|silihlihot}}) * ''Lepus capensis'', [[cape hare]], ማንቲለ ({{transliteration|ti|mantile}}) * ''Mellivora capensis'', [[honey badger]], ትትጊ ({{transliteration|ti|titigi}}) {{Div col end}} ==== Small rodents ==== The most common pest [[rodents]] with widespread distribution in agricultural fields and storage areas are three Ethiopian endemic species: the Dembea grass rat (''Arvicanthis dembeensis'', sometimes considered a subspecies of ''[[Arvicanthis niloticus]]''), Ethiopian white-footed rat (''[[Stenocephalemys albipes]]''), and [[Awash multimammate mouse]] (''Mastomys awashensis'').<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Meheretu Yonas |last2=Kiros Welegerima |last3=Sluydts |first3=V |last4=Bauer |first4=H |last5=Kindeya Gebrehiwot |author5-link=Kindeya Gebrehiwot |last6=Deckers |first6=J |last7=Makundi |first7=R |last8=Leirs |first8=H |year=2015 |title=Reproduction and survival of rodents in crop fields: the effects of rainfall, crop stage and stone-bund density |journal=Wildlife Research |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=158–164 |doi=10.1071/WR14121 |bibcode=2015WildR..42..158M |s2cid=83510874}}</ref> ==== Bats ==== [[Bats]] occur in natural [[caves]], church buildings and abandoned homesteads. The large colony of bats that roosts in [[Zeyi]] cave comprises ''Hipposideros megalotis'' ([[Ethiopian large-eared roundleaf bat]]), ''[[Hipposideridae|Hipposideros tephrus]]'', and ''Rhinolophus blasii'' ([[Blasius's horseshoe bat]]).<ref name="zeyi">{{cite journal |last1=Nyssen |first1=Jan |last2=Yonas |first2=Meheretu |last3=Annys |first3=Sofie |last4=Ghebreyohannes |first4=Tesfaalem |last5=Smidt |first5=Wolbert |last6=Welegerima |first6=Kiros |last7=Gebreselassie |first7=Seifu |last8=Sembroni |first8=Andrea |last9=Dramis |first9=Francesco |last10=Ek |first10=Camille |last11=Causer |first11=David |title=The Zeyi Cave Geosite in Northern Ethiopia |journal=Geoheritage |date=March 2020 |volume=12 |issue=1 |page=6 |doi=10.1007/s12371-020-00446-7 |bibcode=2020Geohe..12....6N |hdl=2268/266630 |s2cid=210913903 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> ==== Birds ==== With its numerous [[exclosure]]s, forest fragments and [[church forest]]s, Tigray is a [[birdwatcher]]'s paradise. Detailed inventories<ref name="ALN2019" /><ref name="Land rehabilitation and the conserv">{{cite journal |last1=Aerts |first1=R |last2=Lerouge |first2=F |last3=November |first3=E |last4=Lens |first4=L |last5=Hermy |first5=M |last6=Muys |first6=B |year=2008 |title=Land rehabilitation and the conservation of birds in a degraded Afromontane landscape in northern Ethiopia |url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/145812 |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=53–69 |doi=10.1007/s10531-007-9230-2 |bibcode=2008BiCon..17...53A |s2cid=37489450|url-access=subscription }}</ref> list at least 170 bird species, including numerous [[endemic]] species. Species belonging to the [[Ethiopian montane forests|Afrotropical Highland Biome]] occur in the dry evergreen montane forests of the highland plateau but can also occupy other habitats. [[Wattled Ibis]] can be found feeding in wet grassland and open woodland. [[Black-winged Lovebird]], [[Banded Barbet]], Golden-mantled or [[Abyssinian Woodpecker]], [[Montane White-eye]], [[Rüppell's Robin-chat]], [[Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher]] and [[Tacazze Sunbird]] are found in evergreen forest, mountain woodlands and areas with scattered trees including [[fig trees]], ''[[Euphorbia abyssinica]]'' and ''[[Juniperus procera]]''. [[Erckel's spurfowl]], [[Dusky Turtle Dove]], Swainson's or [[Grey-headed Sparrow]], [[Baglafecht Weaver]], [[African Citril]], [[Brown-rumped Seedeater]] and [[Streaky Seedeater]] are common [[Afrotropical]] breeding residents of woodland edges, scrubland and forest edges. [[White-billed Starling]] and [[Little Rock Thrush]] can be found on steep cliffs; [[Columba guinea|Speckled or African rock pigeon]] and [[White-collared Pigeon]] in gorges and rocky places but also in towns and villages.<ref name="ALN2019" /> Species belonging to the [[List of desert and xeric shrubland ecoregions|Somali-Masai Biome]]. [[Hemprich's Hornbill]] and [[White-rumped Babbler]] are found in bushland, scrubland and dense secondary forest, often near cliffs, gorges or water. Chestnut-Winged or [[Somali Starling]] and [[Rüppell's Weaver]] are found in bushy and shrubby areas. [[Black-billed wood hoopoe]]s have some red at the base of the bill or an entirely red bill in this area.<ref name="ALN2019" /> Species belonging to the [[East Sudanian savanna|Sudan-Guinea Savanna Biome]]: [[Green-backed eremomela]] and [[Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver]].<ref name="ALN2019" /> Species that are neither endemic nor biome-restricted but that have restricted ranges or that can be more easily seen in Ethiopia than elsewhere in their range: [[Abyssinian Roller]] is an Ethiopian relative of [[Lilac-breasted Roller]], which is an intra-tropical breeding migrant of south and east Africa, and of [[European Roller]], an uncommon [[Palearctic]] passage migrant. [[Black-billed Barbet]], [[Yellow-breasted Barbet]] and [[Grey-headed Batis]] are species from the [[Sahel]] and [[Northern Africa]] but also occur in [[Acacia]] woodlands in the area.<ref name="ALN2019" /> The most regularly observed raptor birds in crop fields in Tigray are [[Augur buzzard]] (''Buteo augur''), [[Common Buzzard]] (''Buteo buteo''), [[Steppe Eagle]] (''Aquila nipalensis''), [[Lanner falcon]] (''Falco biarmicus''), [[Black kite]] (''Milvus migrans''), [[Yellow-billed kite]] (''Milvus aegyptius'') and [[Western barn owl|Barn owl]] (''Tyto alba'').<ref>{{cite book |last1=Meheretu Yonas |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |title=Raptor perch sites for biological control of agricultural pest rodents. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District |last2=Leirs |first2=H |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Birdwatching]] can be done particularly in exclosures and forests. Eighteen bird-watching sites have been inventoried in [[Enderta (woreda)|Enderta]] and [[Degua Tembien]]<ref name="ALN2019" /> and mapped.<ref name="chapmap">{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |title=Geo-trekking map of Dogu'a Tembien (1:50,000). In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546 |url-status=live }}</ref> == Administrative zones and districts == [[File:Administrative Zones of Tigray.png|thumb|292x292px|Administrative zones of Tigray]] [[File:Administrative boundaries at woreda (district) level, as implemented in January 2020.jpg|thumb|294x294px|Districts of Tigray]] Like other Regions in Ethiopia, Tigray is subdivided into administrative zones, and further into ''[[woreda]]s'' or districts. Up to January 2020, these were the ''woredas'' of Tigray: {{Div col|colwidth=16em}} * [[Mehakelegnaw Zone|Central Tigray]] ** [[Abergele (woreda)|Abergele]] ** [[Abiy Addi|Abiy Addi Town]] ** [[Adwa (woreda)|Adwa]] ** [[Adwa|Adwa Town]] ** [[Axum|Aksum Town]] ** [[Degua Tembien|Dogu'a Tembien]] ** [[Enticho (woreda)|Enticho]] ** [[Kola Tembien]] ** [[La'ilay Maychew]] ** [[Mereb Lehe]] ** [[Naeder Adet]] ** [[Tahtay Maychew]] ** [[Werie Lehe]] * [[Misraqawi Zone|East Tigray]] ** [[Adigrat|Adigrat Town]] ** [[Atsbi Wenberta]] ** [[Ganta Afeshum]] ** [[Gulomahda]] ** [[Hawzen (woreda)|Hawzen]] ** [[Irob (woreda)|Irob]] ** [[Kilte Awulaelo]] ** [[Saesi Tsaedaemba]] ** [[Wukro|Wukro Town]] * [[Semien Mi'irabawi Zone|North West Tigray]] ** [[Asigede Tsimbela]] ** [[La'ilay Adiyabo]] ** [[Medebay Zana]] ** [[Tahtay Adiyabo]] ** [[Tahtay Koraro]] ** [[Tselemti]] ** [[Shiraro, Ethiopia|Shiraro Town]] ** [[Shire, Ethiopia|Shire Town]] * [[Debubawi Zone|South Tigray]] ** [[Alaje]] ** [[Alamata (woreda)|Alamata]] ** [[Alamata|Alamata Town]] ** [[Endamehoni]] ** [[Korem|Korem Town]] ** [[Maychew|Maychew Town]] ** [[Ofla]] ** [[Raya Azebo]] * [[Debub Misraqawi Zone|South East Tigray]] ** [[Enderta (woreda)|Enderta]] ** [[Hintalo Wajirat]] ** [[Samre (woreda)|Samre]] * [[Mi'irabawi Zone|West Tigray]] ** [[Kafta Humera]] ** [[Humera|Humera Town]] ** [[Wolqayt]] ** [[Tsegede]] * [[Mekelle]] (special zone) {{Div col end}} In 2018 and 2019, after multiple village discussions that were often vigorous in the more remote areas, 21 independent urban administrations were added and other boundaries re-drawn, resulting in an increase from 35 to 94 ''woredas'' in January 2020: {{Div col|colwidth=16em}} * [[Mehakelegnaw Zone|Central Tigray]] ** [[Abergele Yechila (woreda)|Abergele]] ** [[Adet]] ** [[Abiy Addi|Abiy Addi Town]] ** [[Adwa (woreda)|Adwa]] ** [[Adwa|Adwa Town]] ** [[Ahferom]] ** [[Ahse'a]] ** [[Axum|Aksum Town]] ** [[Chila (woreda)|Chila]] ** [[Edaga Arbi]] ** [[Egela]] ** [[Emba Seneyti]] ** [[Mai Qnetal]] ** [[Enticho]] town ** [[Hahayle]] ** [[Keyh Tekli]] ** [[Kola Tembien|Kola Temben]] ** [[La'ilay Maychew|Laelay Maychew]] ** [[Naeder]] ** [[Rama Adi Arbaete, Tigray|Rama]] ** [[Tahtay Maichew]] ** [[Tanqua Melash]] * [[Misraqawi Zone|East Tigray]] ** [[Adigrat|Adigrat Town]] ** [[Agulae]] ** [[Tsirae Wenberta]] ** [[Atsbi Dera]] ** [[Atsbi Town]] ** [[Bizet]] ** [[Edaga Hamus Town]] ** [[Irob (woreda)|Erob]] ** [[Freweyni Town]] ** [[Ganta Afeshum]] ** [[Gheralta]] ** [[Hawzen (woreda)|Hawzen]] ** [[Hawzen Town]] ** [[Kilte Awulaelo]] ** [[Sebha Saesie]] ** [[Tsaeda Emba]] ** [[Wukro Town]] ** [[Fatsi Town]] ** [[Zalambessa Town]] * [[Semien Mi'irabawi Zone|North West Tigray]] ** [[Adi Daero]] town ** [[Maekel Adiyabo]] or Adi Hageray ** [[Asgede]] ** [[Laelay Tselemti]] ** [[Inda Aba Guna]] Town ** [[Shire Inda Selassie]] Town ** [[La'ilay Adiyabo|Laelay Adiabo]] ** [[May Tsebri]] Town ** [[Selekleka]] ** [[Seyemti Adiyabo]] ** [[Sheraro]] Town ** [[Tahtay Adiyabo]] ** [[Tahtay Koraro]] ** [[Tselemti]] ** [[Tsimbla]] ** [[Zana, Ethiopia|Zana]] * [[Debubawi Zone|South Tigray]] ** [[Alamata|Alamata Town]] ** [[Bora, Tigray|Bora]] ** [[Raya Chercher]] ** [[Emba Alaje]] ** [[Endamehoni]] ** [[Korem Town]] ** [[Maichew Town]] ** [[Mekhoni]] Town ** [[Neqsage]] ** [[Ofla]] ** [[Raya Alamata]] ** [[Raya Azebo]] ** [[Selewa]] ** [[Zata]] * [[Debub Misraqawi Zone|South East Tigray]] ** [[Adi Gudem]] town ** [[Dogu'a Tembien|Dogu'a Temben]] ** [[Enderta (woreda)|Enderta]] ** [[Hagere Selam Town]] ** [[Hintalo]] ** [[Eisra Adi Wajirat]] ** [[Saharti]] ** [[Samre (woreda)|Samre]] * [[Mi'irabawi Zone|West Tigray]] ** [[Awura]] ** [[Dansha]] town ** [[Kafta Humera]] ** [[Qorarit Town]] ** [[Mai Kadra|May Kadra]] town ** [[Mai Gaba]] town ** [[Humera]] town ** [[Tsegede]] ** [[Wolqayt|Welkalt]] * [[Mekelle]] (special zone) ** [[Hadnet Sub city]] ** [[Hawelti Sub city]] ** [[Adi Haqi Sub city]] ** [[Quiha Sub city]] ** [[Semien Sub city]] ** [[Kedamay Weyane Sub city]] ** [[Ayder Sub city]] {{Div col end}} === Major cities === {{Largest cities|country=Tigray Region|class=nav|stat_ref=Source:<ref>{{cite web |title=Population Size of Towns by Sex, Region, Zone and Weredas as of July 2021 |website=Stats Ethiopia |url=https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Population-of-Towns-as-of-July-2021.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025061611/https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Population-of-Towns-as-of-July-2021.pdf |archive-date=2021-10-25}}</ref>|list_by_pop=|div_name=District|div_link=List of districts in the Tigray Region{{!}}District|city_1=Mekelle|div_1=Enderta (woreda){{!}}Enderta|pop_1=559,000|img_1=|city_2=Adigrat|div_2=Adigrat|pop_2=116,193|img_2=Adigrat 03.jpg|city_3=Shire Inda Selassie|div_3=Semien Mi'rabawi|pop_3=95,491|img_3=Late Afternoon In The Neighborhood, Axum, Ethiopia (3163995792).jpg|city_4=Axum|div_4=La'ilay Maychew|pop_4=90,182|img_4=|city_5=Adwa|div_5=Kafta Humera|pop_5=81,719|city_6=Adwa|div_6=Adwa|pop_6=40,500|city_7=Alamata|div_7=Alamata|pop_7=67,209|city_8=Wukro|div_8=Kilte Awulaelo|pop_8=61,024|pop_10=43,965|pop_9=47,329|city_9=Maychew|city_10=Humera|div_9=Endamehoni|div_10=Kafta Humera}} [[Mekelle]], home to [[Mekelle University]], [[Mekelle Institute of Technology]], [[Tigray Institute of Policy Studies]], Admas University, Microlink College, Nile College, and Mekelle College of Teacher Education is the capital of Tigray, near the geographic center of the state. Other Tigray cities functioning as centers of Ethiopian metropolitan areas include: :* [[Adigrat]] (home of [[Adigrat University]], [[Debre Damo|Debre Damo monastery]] and [[Addis Pharmaceutical Factory]]) :* [[Adwa]] (home of [[Adwa Pan-African University|Adwa Pan African University]],) :* [[Axum]] (home of [[Aksum University]],) :* [[Maychew]] (home of [[Raya University]]) Of the 10 largest cities in Tigray, [[Maychew]] has the highest elevation at 2479 meter above sea level. Plenty of smaller towns, like [[Atsbi]] and [[Idaga Hamus (Saesi Tsaedaemba)|Edaga Hamus]] are located at even higher elevations. Of the large cities, [[Humera]] is located at the lowest altitude (585 m). == Government and politics == === Executive branch === The executive branch is headed by the Chief Administrator of the [[Interim Regional Administration of Tigray]]. The current president is [[Getachew Reda|Getachew Reda Kahsay]], a TPLF member, appointed in 2023. A Vice President of Tigray succeeds the president in the event of any removal from office, and performs any duties assigned by the president.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lansford |first=Tom |url=https://archive.org/details/politicalhandboo0000unse_f0m6 |title=Political Handbook of the World |publisher=CQ Press |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4833-7155-9 |location=Washington, D.C., United States |url-access=registration}}</ref> The other elected constitutional offices in the executive branch are the Regional Health Bureau (''Ato'' Hagos Godefy),<ref>{{cite news |date=11 October 2013 |title=Minster of Health Visits MU's Ayder Referral Hospital |publisher=Mekelle University News |url=http://www.mu.edu.et/index.php/about-mu1?id=335 |access-date=8 July 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Educational Bureau (''Ato'' Gebre'egziabher),<ref>{{cite news |date=17 December 2013 |title=MU donates 100 computers to Tigray Education Bureau |publisher=Mekelle University News |url=http://www.mu.edu.et/index.php/news-events/318-mu-donates-100-computers-to-tigray-education-bureau |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=16 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516202148/http://www.mu.edu.et/index.php/news-events/318-mu-donates-100-computers-to-tigray-education-bureau |url-status=live }}</ref> Auditor General (''Ato'' Alemseged Kebedew), and 12 other officials.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |year=2016 |title=Tigray Regional State |url=http://www.ethiopia.gov.et/statetigray |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208210826/http://www.ethiopia.gov.et/statetigray |archive-date=2015-12-08 |access-date=8 July 2017 |publisher=Ethiopian Government portal}}</ref> === Judicial branch === There are three levels of the Tigray state [[judiciary]]. The lowest level is the court of common pleas: each woreda maintains its own constitutionally mandated court of common pleas, which maintain jurisdiction over all justiciable matters.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kiros Assefa |first=Simeneh |title=Criminal Procedure Law: Principles, Rules and Practices |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-4500-0339-1 |location=Bloomington, Indiana |page=113}}{{self-published source|date=December 2017}}</ref> The intermediate-level court system is the district court system. Four courts of appeals exist, each retaining jurisdiction over appeals from common pleas, municipal, and county courts in an administrative zone. A case heard in this system is decided by a three-judge panel, and each judge is elected. The highest-ranking court, the Tigray Supreme Court, is Tigray's "court of last resort".<ref>{{cite web |date=14 August 2015 |title=MOU Signing ceremony With Federal and Regional Supreme Courts of Ethiopia to Facilitate Support for Clearance of Backlog Files |url=http://www.jfapfe.org/News1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105024748/http://www.jfapfe.org/News1.html |archive-date=5 November 2017 |access-date=8 July 2017 |publisher=Justice For All-PF Ethiopia}}</ref> A seven-justice panel composes the court, which, by its own discretion, hears appeals from the courts of appeals, and retains original jurisdiction over limited matters. The chief judge is called the President of Tigray Supreme Court (''W/ro'' Hirity Miheretab). === Legislative branch === The State Council, which is the highest administrative body of the state, is made up of 152 members.<ref name=":0" /> === National politics === Tigray is represented by 38 representatives in the [[House of Peoples' Representatives|Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia House of Peoples' Representatives]]. But currently after the illegitimate postponement of the national election of Ethiopia Tigray has pulled it representative from the House of House of Peoples' Representatives and has no representation in the Federal parliament [https://www.dw.com/en/crisis-looms-in-ethiopia-as-elections-are-postponed/a-53829389 Crisis looms in Ethiopia as elections are postponed – DW – 06/16/2020]. == Demographics == [[File:Santarfas washing place.jpg|thumb|Tigrayan women washing clothes in [[Santarfa]]]] [[File:People in Aksum Tsion.jpeg|thumb|[[Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion]] in [[Axum]]]] Based on the 2007 census conducted by the [[Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)|Central Statistical Agency]] of Ethiopia (CSA), the Tigray Region has a population of 4,316,988, of whom 2,126,465 are men and 2,190,523 women; urban inhabitants number 844,040 or 19.6% of the population. With an estimated area of 84,722 km<sup>2</sup>, the region had an estimated density of 51 people per km<sup>2</sup>. In the entire region 992,635 households were counted, for an average of 4.4 people per household, with urban households having on average 3.4 and rural households 4.6.<ref name="Census07"/> In the previous census, conducted in 1994, the region's population was 3,136,267, of whom 1,542,165 were men and 1,594,102 women; urban inhabitants numbered 621,210, or 14% of the population. According to the CSA, {{as of|2004|lc=on}}, 54.0% of the total population had access to [[Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia|safe drinking water]], of whom 42.7% were rural inhabitants and 97.3% were urban.<ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Basic_welfare_Indicator/Households%20by%20sources%20of%20drinking%20water.pdf "Households by sources of drinking water, safe water sources"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118223239/http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Basic_welfare_Indicator/Households%20by%20sources%20of%20drinking%20water.pdf|date=2008-11-18}} CSA Selected Basic Welfare Indicators (accessed 21 January 2009)</ref> Values for other reported common indicators of the [[standard of living]] for Tigray {{as of|2005|lc=on}} include: 31.6% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 67.5% and for women 33.7%; and the [[infant mortality rate]] is 67 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, less than the national average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants' first month of life.<ref>Macro International Inc. [http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADM636.pdf "2008. Ethiopia Atlas of Key Demographic and Health Indicators, 2005" (Calverton: Macro International, 2008)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517052347/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADM636.pdf |date=17 May 2017 }}, pp. 2, 3, 10 (accessed 28 January 2009)</ref> The predominant religion in Tigray is Orthodox Christianity at 96.6%.<ref name=":1">[http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Cen2007_firstdraft.pdf "Census 2007"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604045256/http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Cen2007_firstdraft.pdf |date=4 June 2012 }}, first draft, Tables 1, 4, 5, 6</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! rowspan="1" | Religion ! colspan="1" | 1994 Census ! colspan="1" | 2007 Census <ref name=":1" /> |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |- | align="left" |[[Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] | 96.5% | 96.6% |- | align="left" |[[Islam in Ethiopia|Muslim]] | 3.1% | 3.0% |- | align="left" |[[Roman Catholic|Catholics]] | 0.4% | 0.4% |} {{Historical populations | 1994 | 3,136,267 | 2007 | 4,316,988 | align = none | footnote = source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/Ethiopia.html |title=Tigray Region population statistics |access-date=2 July 2019 |archive-date=24 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924030324/http://citypopulation.de/Ethiopia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> }} === Ethnicity === [[File:Hijra Abyssinia (Rashid ad-Din).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The king of [[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksum]] refusing a request from pagan Meccans for Muslims [[Muhammad]] had sent there as refugees (1314 artwork).]] With 96.6% of the local population, the region is predominantly inhabited by the [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]]-speaking [[Tigrayans|Tigrayan people]]. The Tigrinya language belongs to the [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] branch of the [[Afro-Asiatic languages|Afro-Asiatic]] family of languages. Most other residents hail from other [[Afro-Asiatic languages|Afro-Asiatic]]-speaking communities, including the [[Amhara people|Amhara]], [[Irob people|Irob]], [[Afar people|Afar]], [[Agaw people|Agaw]] and [[Oromo people|Oromo]]. Partly assimilated Oromo live in remoter villages in [[Raya Azebo]] and [[Alamata (woreda)]], whereas there are Agaw in [[Abergele (woreda)]]. There are also [[Nilo-Saharan languages|Nilo-Saharan]]-speaking [[Kunama people|Kunama]] as well.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |-bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! rowspan="1" | Ethnic<br />group ! colspan="1" | 1994 Census ! colspan="1" | 2007 Census <ref name="Census07">{{cite web|title=Population and Housing Census 2007|url=http://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Population-and-Housing-Census-2007-National_Statistical.pdf|publisher=Central Statistics Agency|access-date=7 September 2019|page=74|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203232348/http://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Population-and-Housing-Census-2007-National_Statistical.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> |-bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |- | align="left"|[[Tigrayan]] | 95.0% | 96.6% |- | align="left"|[[Amhara people|Amhara]] | 2.6% | 1.6% |- | align="left"|[[Irob people|Irob]] | 0.7% | 0.7% |- | align="left"|[[Afar people|Afar]] | – | 0.3% |- | align="left"|[[Agaw people|Agaw]] | – | 0.2% |- | align="left"|[[Oromo people|Oromo]] | – | 0.2% |- | align="left"|[[Kunama people|Kunama]] | 0.1% | 0.1% |} === Languages === The working language is [[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]]. [[Saho language|Saho]] and [[Kunama language|Kunama]] are also spoken, and most people in urban areas are also able to speak Amharic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ethiopar.net/English/basinfo/infotgry.htm|title=FDRE States: Basic Information – Tigray|at=Population|access-date= 22 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926215018/http://www.ethiopar.net/English/basinfo/infotgry.htm|archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> === Notable people === <!-- Insert next entry below. Please keep alphabetical order. --> * [[Abay Tsehaye]] - Co-Founder of [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] * [[Abba Estifanos of Gwendagwende]] – Christian monk, itinerant preacher, and martyr known for his reformation movement and as an early dissident of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Church]] and Emperor Zara Ya'iqob in the 15th century * [[Abune Mathias]] – "His Holiness Abune Mathias I, Sixth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum, and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklehaimanot." * [[Abune Paulos]] – Former Patriarch of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]]. * [https://hadgi.com/bashai-awalom/ Bashai Awalom Haregot] – The first African-trained spy. * [[Debretsion Gebremichael]] – Former President of Tigray (9 Jan 2018 – 3 March 2023) & current chairman of [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]]. * [[Yohannes IV|Emperor Yohannes IV]] – Prince of Tigray (1868–1871) & Emperor of Ethiopia (r. 12 January 1872 – 10 March 1889). * [[Gebrehiwot Baykedagn]] – Doctor, economist, and intellectual. * [[Tsadkan Gebretensae|Gen. Tsadkan Gebretensae]] – Lieutenant general and member of the central command of the Tigray Defense Forces. * [[Getachew Reda]] - Chief Administrator of the [[Interim Regional Administration of Tigray]] * [[Gudaf Tsegay]] – Athlete, 5,000 and 10,000 world champion, current world record holder for 5,000 m. * [[Hagos Gebrhiwet]] – Athlete and former World Junior Record holder in the 5,000 meters. * [[Hayelom Araya]] – Former Major General of [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] & [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]]. * [[Kiros Alemayehu]] – Songwriter and singer, popularized Tigrigna songs. Popularized Tigrigna songs through his albums to the non Tigrinya speaking Ethiopians * [[Mengesha Seyoum|Le'ul Ras Mengesha Seyoum]] – Son of Le'ul Ras Mengesha Yohannes & Former Governor of Tigray (1960 – 12 October 1974). * [[Seyoum Mengesha|Le'ul Ras Seyoum Mengesha]] – Son of Ras Mengesha Yohannes & Former Prince of Tigray (1906–1936). * [[Letesenbet Gidey]] – Athlete, 10,000 meters world champion, multiple medalist, and world record holder. * [[Meles Zenawi]] – Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia (28 May 1991– 20 August 2012). * [[Miruts Yifter]] – Olympic runner. * [[Ras Alula|Ras Alula Aba Nega]] – The first full African general. * [[Ras Mengesha Yohannes]] – Son of Emperor Yohannes IV & Former Governor of Tigray (1872–1906). * [[Mikael Sehul|Ras Mikael Sehul]] – Former Ruler of Ethiopia & Governor of Tigray (1748 –1771) (1772–1784). * [[Rophnan]] – Musician & DJ. * [[Yared|Saint Yared]] – Axumite composer and priest (25 April 505 – 20 May 571 AD), inventor of the three basic modes of Ethiopian/Eritrean church music, namely [[Geʽez|Ge'ez]], Ezl, and Araray * [[Selam Tesfaye]] – Actress. * [[Sebhat Gebre-Egziabher]] – Fiction writer and philosopher. * [[Seyoum Mesfin]] – Co-founder of [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] & Former Foreign Minister of Ethiopia (1991–2010). * [[Siye Abraha]] – Former Rebel fighter & top official of [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] & [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]]. * [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]] – Director-General, [[World Health Organization|World Health Organization (WHO)]]. * [[Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher]] – Scientist and brother of Sebhat Gebre-Egziabher. * [[Zera Yacob (philosopher)|Zera Yacob]] – Philosopher from the 17th Century, best known for his treatise, [[Hatata]] ("The Inquiry"). * [[Zeresenay Alemseged]] – Anthropologist, known for discovering "[[Selam (Australopithecus)|Selam]]", the fossilized remains of a 3.3-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis child. == Agriculture == === Cropping === [[File:Kulsas in Tigray photo Nena Terrell USAID.jpg|thumb|Heaped straw or ''kulsas'']] {{empty section|date=July 2021}} === Terracing and dam construction === [[File:Inda Abba Hadera forest.jpg|thumb|[[Gestet]] forest]] An important aspect of the agricultural work in Tigray after the end of the 1991 civil war was to minimize the problems of drought. In the past, Tigray was covered with forests and had a micro-climate that favoured the rains. Subsequently, the forests were cut down, usually to impoverish the population during the wars. Consequently, Tigray achieved a fair amount of rainfall during the rainy season, from August to September, but quickly lost these waters downstream. In the process the fertile soil of the fields eroded. After a few weeks of rain, the country again dried up.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} [[File:Crop harvesting in Khunale.jpg|thumb|Crop harvesting in [[Khunale]]]] The government undertook two projects in Tigray. The first was the construction of terraces which, with the agreement and help of local communities, go up to the tops of the mountains at 2,500 metres. The goal was to prevent the rainfall flowing away immediately so that it could be conserved for the agricultural season. On the highest terraces were planted trees, mainly [[eucalyptus]], the dominant tree in Ethiopia and native to [[Australia]]. These plants created a new microclimate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www-cif.climateinvestmentfunds.org/sites/default/files/aasr-2014climate-change-and-smallholder-agriculture-in-ssa.pdf |title=Africa Agriculture Status Report 2014 – Climate Change and Smallholder Agriculture in Sub-saharan Africa |access-date=2017-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801051500/https://www-cif.climateinvestmentfunds.org/sites/default/files/aasr-2014climate-change-and-smallholder-agriculture-in-ssa.pdf|archive-date=2016-08-01}}</ref> The terracing method was very simple but required good organization. Long stretches of the fields were terraced by the villagers using stone walls from stones that erosion had exposed. The rains eroding the still non-terraced ground formed mudslides that were held by the topmost walls, which permitted construction of a new terrace field and another wall with uncovered stones, creating new ground terraced farmland every year. [[File:2. Addi Amharay.jpg|thumb|[[Addi Amharay]] reservoir]] Another endeavour involved the construction of small [[reservoir]]s for local irrigation. As rains last only for a couple of months per year, reservoirs of different sizes allow harvesting runoff from the rainy season for further use in the dry season. The dams needed to create these basins are typically an embankment of a few hundreds of meters, closing off one part of a valley, with a maximum height of 20 metres. Each took months of work, in which people carried earth on their back, and with assistance of donkeys. Generally 2,000–3,000 people – men, women and children – carried the earth in simple baskets.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} The small reservoirs in Tigray include: {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * [[Addi Abagiè]] * [[Addi Akhor]] * [[Addi Amharay]] * [[May Leiba]] * [[Hiza'iti Wedi Cheber]] * [[Addi Asme'e]] * [[Chini]] * [[Addi Gela]] * [[Addi Hilo]] * [[Addi Qenafiz]] * [[Addi Shihu]] * [[Aqushela]] * [[Arato]] * [[Belesat]] * [[Betqua]] * [[Chichat]] * [[Dibdibo]] * [[Dur Anbesa]] * [[Imbagedo]] * [[Inda Zib'i]] * [[Era (reservoir)]] * [[Era Quhila]] * [[Gereb Mihiz]] * [[Filiglig]] * [[Gereb May Zib'i]] * [[Gereb Bi'ati]] * [[Gereb Awso]] * [[Felaga]] * [[Gereb Segen (Hintalo)]] * [[Gereb Segen (May Gabat)]] * [[Gereb Shegal]] * [[Ginda'i]] * [[Godew]] {{div col end}} Overall, these reservoirs suffer from rapid [[siltation]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Vanmaercke|first1=M. and colleagues|title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains|chapter=Sediment Yield and Reservoir Siltation in Tigray|date=2019|publisher=Springer Nature|location=Cham (CH)|pages=345–357|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_23|series=GeoGuide|isbn=978-3-030-04954-6|s2cid=199112876}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nigussie Haregeweyn|first1=and colleagues|title=Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems|journal=Land Degradation and Development|year=2006|volume=17|pages=211–230|doi=10.1002/ldr.698|s2cid=129834993 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Part of the water that could be used for irrigation is lost through [[seepage]]; the positive side-effect is that this contributes to [[groundwater recharge]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Nigussie Haregeweyn|first1=and colleagues|title=Sediment yield variability in Northern Ethiopia: A quantitative analysis of its controlling factors|journal=Catena|year=2008|volume=75|issue=1 |pages=65–76 |doi=10.1016/j.catena.2008.04.011|bibcode=2008Caten..75...65H }}</ref> === Vegetation and enclosures === [[File:Misty Morning near Endaselassie.JPG|thumb|Mountains of Lemalimo near [[Inda Selassie]] in western Tigray]] Tigray holds numerous [[exclosure]]s, areas that are set aside for regreening.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Aerts|first1=R|last2=Nyssen|first2=J|author3-link=Mitiku Haile|last3=Mitiku Haile|title=On the difference between 'exclosures' and 'enclosures' in ecology and the environment|journal=Journal of Arid Environments|year=2009|volume=73|issue=8|pages=762–763|doi=10.1016/j.jaridenv.2009.01.006|bibcode=2009JArEn..73..762A|url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/239842|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Logging and livestock grazing are not allowed there. Besides effects on [[biodiversity]],<ref name="ALN2019">{{cite book|last1=Aerts|first1=R.|last2=Lerouge|first2=F.|last3=November|first3=E.|title=Birds of forests and open woodlands in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District|date=2019|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-3-030-04954-6|url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546|access-date=19 June 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mastewal Yami|first1=and colleagues|title=Impact of Area Enclosures on Density and Diversity of Large Wild Mammals: The Case of May Ba'ati, Douga Tembien Woreda, Central Tigray, Ethiopia|journal=East African Journal of Sciences|year=2007|volume=1|pages=1–14}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Aerts|first1=R.|last2=Lerouge|first2=F. |last3=November|first3=E.|last4=Lens|first4=L.|last5=Hermy|first5=M.|last6=Muys|first6=B.|title=Land rehabilitation and the conservation of birds in a degraded Afromontane landscape in northern Ethiopia |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation|year=2008|volume=17|issue=1 |pages=53–69|doi=10.1007/s10531-007-9230-2|bibcode=2008BiCon..17...53A |s2cid=37489450|url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/145812|url-access=subscription}}</ref> [[water infiltration]], protection from flooding, [[sediment]] deposition,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Descheemaeker|first1=K. and colleagues|title=Sediment deposition and pedogenesis in exclosures in the Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia.|journal=Geoderma|year=2006|volume=132|issue=3–4|pages=291–314 |doi=10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.04.027|bibcode=2006Geode.132..291D}}</ref> [[carbon sequestration]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wolde Mekuria|first1=and colleagues|title=Restoration of Ecosystem Carbon Stocks Following Exclosure Establishment in Communal Grazing Lands in Tigray, Ethiopia|journal=Soil Science Society of America Journal|year=2011|volume=75|issue=1|pages=246–256|doi=10.2136/sssaj2010.0176|bibcode=2011SSASJ..75..246M|url=https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/6868 }}</ref> people commonly have economic benefits from these exclosures through grass harvesting, beekeeping and other [[non-timber forest product]]s.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bedru Babulo|first1=and colleagues|title=Economic valuation methods of forest rehabilitation in exclosures|journal=Journal of the Drylands|year=2006|volume=1|pages=165–170}}</ref> The local inhabitants also consider it as "land set aside for future generations".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jacob|first1=M. and colleagues|title=Exclosures as Primary Option for Reforestation in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District|date=2019|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-3-030-04954-6|url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546|access-date=19 June 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Degua Tembien|Dogu'a Tembien]], several exclosures are managed by the [[EthioTrees]] project. They have as an additional benefit that the villagers receive [[carbon credit]]s for the [[Carbon sequestration|sequestered]] CO<sub>2</sub>,<ref name="chapter">{{cite book|last1=Reubens|first1=B. and colleagues|title=Research-based development projects in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains – The Dogu'a Tembien District|date=2019|publisher=SpringerNature|isbn=978-3-030-04954-6|url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546|access-date=19 June 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142516/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546|url-status=live}}</ref> as part of a [[carbon offset]] programme.<ref name="vivo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.planvivo.org/project-network/ethiotrees-tembien-highlands/ |title=EthioTrees on Plan Vivo website |access-date=2 February 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927034013/https://www.planvivo.org/project-network/ethiotrees-tembien-highlands/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The revenues are then reinvested in the villages, according to the priorities of the communities;<ref name="davines">{{Cite web |url=https://www.davines.com/blogs/projects/ethiotrees |title=EthioTrees on Davines website |access-date=2 February 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201101543/https://www.davines.com/blogs/projects/ethiotrees |url-status=live }}</ref> it may be for an additional class in the village school, a water pond, conservation in the exclosures, or a store for [[incense]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moens|first1=T.|title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains|last2=Lanckriet|first2=S.|last3=Jacob|first3=M.|chapter=Boswellia Incense in the Giba River Gorge|date=2019|publisher=Springer Nature|pages=293–300|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_19 |series=GeoGuide|isbn=978-3-030-04954-6|s2cid=199113310}}</ref> === Livestock === [[File:Raya oxen at ploughing.jpg|thumb|right|Raya oxen at ploughing near Mekelle]] The CSA estimated in 2005 that farmers in Tigray had a total of 2,713,750 cattle (representing 7.0% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 72,640 sheep (0.4%), 208,970 goats (1.6%), 1,200 horses (less than 0.1%), 9,190 mules (6.2%), 386,600 asses (15.4%), 32,650 camels (7.2%), 3,180,240 poultry of all species (10.3%), and 20,480 beehives (0.5%).<ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/National%20statistics/national%20statistics%202005/Agriculture.pdf "CSA 2005 National Statistics"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118225214/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/National%20statistics/national%20statistics%202005/Agriculture.pdf|date=2008-11-18}}, Tables D.4 – D.7</ref> Cattle are an essential component in the dominant grain-plough agricultural system. In the rainy season, a large part of the cattle herds are in [[Transhumance in Ethiopia|transhumance]].<ref name="trans">{{cite journal |title=Transhumance in the Tigray highlands (Ethiopia)|journal=Mountain Research and Development|year=2009|volume=29|issue=3|pages=255–264|doi=10.1659/mrd.00033|last1=Nyssen|first1=Jan|last2=Descheemaeker |first2=Katrien|last3=Zenebe|first3=Amanuel|last4=Poesen|first4=Jean|last5=Deckers|first5=Jozef|last6=Haile|first6=Mitiku|doi-access=free|hdl=1854/LU-854326|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref name="zbelo">{{cite journal|last1=Zbelo Tesfamariam |first1=and colleagues|title=Transhumance as a driving force of landscape change in the marginal grabens of northern Ethiopia|journal=SJTG|year=2019|volume=40|issue=3|pages=476–495|doi=10.1111/sjtg.12278|bibcode=2019SJTG...40..476T |s2cid=159177828}}</ref> Mainly used for [[Working animal|draught]], there are several cattle landraces in Tigray:<ref name="merha2007">{{cite journal|last1=Merha Zerabruk|last2=Vangen|first2=O.|last3=Mitiku Haile|title=The status of cattle genetic resources in North Ethiopia: On-farm characterization of six major cattle breeds|journal=Animal Genetic Resources Information|year=2007|volume=40|pages=15–32|doi=10.1017/S1014233900002169}}</ref><ref name="ch28">{{cite book|title=Cattle breeds, milk production, and transhumance in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geotrekking in Ethiopia's tropical mountains|chapter= 28|date=2019|publisher=Springer Nature|location=Cham |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_28|s2cid=199323600}}</ref> * [[Arado cattle]], the dominant variety * [[Raya cattle]], long horned, especially raised in [[Southern Tigray]] and traded widely as plough oxen * [[Irob cattle]], particularly in the [[Irob (woreda)|Irob woreda]]<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Merha Zerabruk|last2=Vangen|first2=O.|title=The Abergelle and Irob cattle breeds of North Ethiopia: description and on-farm characterization|journal=Animal Genetic Resources Information Bulletin|year=2005|volume=36|pages=7–20|doi=10.1017/S101423390000184X}}</ref> * [[Abergele cattle]], particularly in [[Abergele (woreda)]] and on the southwestern slopes of [[Degua Tembien|Dogu'a Tembien]] * [[Begayt cattle]], in [[western Tigray]]. They are known for better milk production * In small towns: Cross-bred [[Arado cattle|Arado]] x [[Begayt cattle|Begayt]], and [[Arado cattle|Arado]] x [[Holstein Friesian cattle|Holstein-Friesian]] milk cows == Landmarks == [[File:ET Tigray asv2018-01 img12 Debre Damo Monastery.jpg|thumb|left|Debre Damo monastery.]] [[File:Ethiopia Gheralta MonkStanding.JPG|thumb|200px| Monk standing in front of the rock-hewn [[Abuna Yemata Guh]]'s entrance, situated at a height of {{Convert|2580|m}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rough Guide to Ethiopia|year=2015|publisher=Rough Guides|location=UK|isbn=978-0-241-18185-0|page=160|edition=1st}}</ref> that has to be climbed on foot to reach.]] [[File:Исследуя искусство южных границ христианской ойкумены.jpg|thumb|200px|Rock hewn Church interior at [[Abuna Yemata Guh]]]] A distinctive feature of Tigray are its rock-hewn churches. Similar in design to those of [[Lalibela]] in the [[Amhara Region]], these churches are found in four or five clusters – [[Gheralta]], Teka-Tesfay, [[Atsbi]] and [[Tembien Province|Tembien]] – with Wukro sometimes included. Some of the churches are considered earlier than those of Lalibela, perhaps dating from the eighth century. Mostly [[monolithic architecture|monolithic]], with designs partly inspired by [[classical architecture]], they are often located at the top of [[cliff]]s or steep hills, for security. For example, Tigray's ancient [[Debre Damo]] monastery is accessible only by climbing a rope 25 metres up a sheer cliff. Looting has become a major issue in the Tigray Region, as archaeological sites have become sources for construction materials and ancient artifacts used for everyday purposes by local populations.<ref>Jacke Phillips, Tekle Hagos ''et alia'', [http://antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/phillips/index.html "Combating the destruction of Ethiopia's archaeological heritage", ''Antiquity''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728014051/http://antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/phillips/index.html |date=28 July 2010 }} '''78''' (December 2004)</ref> The area is famous for a single rock sculptured 23 meter long obelisk in [[Axum]] as well as for other fallen obelisks. The Axum treasure site of ancient Tigrayan history is a major landmark. [[Yeha]] is another important local landmark that is little-known outside the region. == Transport == === Ground travel === A major north–south road corridor goes through Tigray. This is facilitated by Highway 2 which goes from Adigrat to Addis Ababa and Highway 3 which goes from Shire to Addis Ababa. === Air travel === [[File:004a Mekelle Airport.jpg|thumb|Alula Aba Nega Airport near to Mekelle.]] Tigray has one international airport and four commercial airports. The international airport is [[Alula Aba Nega Airport]] (MQX) near Mekelle. The region's four other commercial airports are [[Shire Airport]] (SHC), [[Humera Airport]] (HUE), [[Dansha Airport]], and [[Axum Airport|Emperor Yohannes IV Airport]] (AXU), which serves Axum. == Sports == [[Mekelle 70 Enderta F.C.]] (Tigrinya: ጋንታ መቐለ 70 እንደርታ) is an Ethiopian football club based in the capital, Mekelle. They are a member of the Ethiopian Football Federation and currently play in the top division of Ethiopian football, the Ethiopian Premier League. They are known by the nickname the ''Lion's Den'' (ምዓም ኣንበሳ /ምዓም አናብስት/ኣናብስቶቹ). The club won its first Ethiopian Premier League title in the 2018–2019 Ethiopian Premier League Season. [[Shire Endaselassie F.C.|Shire Indasillasie F.C]]. (Tigrinya: ጋንታ ስሑል ሽረ, also known as '''Sihul Shire FC''') is an Ethiopian football club based in [[Shire Inda Selassie|Shire]]. They are a member of the Ethiopian Football Federation and play in the Ethiopian Premier League, the first division of football in Ethiopia. Welwalo Adigrat University F.C ([[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]]: ወልዋሎ ዓዲግራት ዩኒቨርስቲ ፍ.ሲ) is an Ethiopian [[Football (soccer)|football]] club based in [[Adigrat]]. They play in the [[Ethiopian Premier League]], the top division of Ethiopian football Mekele City, Suhul Shire, and Adigrat University football clubs were Tigray-based clubs among the 14 clubs to participate in the Ethiopian Premier League in 2020/2021. However, due to the war, they were replaced by other clubs from the League one rank below the Ethiopian Premier League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/six-clubs-compete-hawassa-replace-tigray-clubs|title=Six clubs to compete in Hawassa to replace Tigray clubs|date=26 June 2021|first=Dawit|last=Tolesa|website=[[The Reporter (Ethiopia)]]|access-date=4 August 2021|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804233856/https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/six-clubs-compete-hawassa-replace-tigray-clubs|url-status=live}}</ref> Tigrayans are known for their good performance in road cycling. For many years cyclists from this region have been dominant in the Ethiopian national cycling championships. [[Tsgabu Grmay]] is one of the best Ethiopian cyclists and the first Ethiopian to participate in the [[Tour de France]]. == Education == At the regional level, the Tigray Education Bureau governs primary and secondary educational institutions. At the municipal level, there are approximately 300 school districts region-wide. === Colleges and universities === {{Div col}} * [[Adigrat University]] * [[Axum University]] * [[Adwa Pan-African University]] * [[Raya University]] * Ethio-lmage College * Greenwich College * Hashenge College * Mars Engineering College * [[Mekelle University]] * [[Mekelle Institute of Technology]] * New Millennium College * Nile College * [[Sheba University College]] * Signal College * St. Mary's University College * Winner college Axum {{Div col end}} {{See also|List of research institutions in Tigray}} === Libraries === Tigray is home to Ethiopia's most extensive church libraries that are found in the eastern and central zones of the region. There are several ongoing digitization projects to preserve previous historical texts. * Axum Heritage Foundation * Romanat Qeddus Mika'el Church * [[Gunda Gunde|Gunda Gunde Monastery]] * Agwaza Monastery * [[Debre Damo|Debre Damo Monastery]] == Non-governmental organisations == Major NGOs, involved in development activities are: * [[Relief Society of Tigray]] * [[Tigrai Development Association]] * [https://tdrfund.org/ Tegaru Disaster Relief Fund (TDRF)] == Notes == <references group="upper-alpha" /> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121108182113/http://www.tigrai.gov.et/ Tigray Region Web Portal] * [http://www.trda.gov.et Tigray Revenue Development Authority] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028193123/https://www.trda.gov.et/ |date=28 October 2020 }} * [http://www.tigraionline.com/tigraistate.html Tigray State Information] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070219032252/http://www.ethiopar.net/English/basinfo/infotgry.htm FDRE States: Basic Information – Tigray] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204228/http://www.dppc.gov.et/downloadable/map/administrative/Atlas_Tigray.pdf Map of Tigray Region at DPPA of Ethiopia] * [http://www.effortgroup.org/ Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray website] * [http://www.ethiopiantreasures.co.uk/pages/aksum.htm Ethiopian Treasures – Queen of Sheba, Aksumite Kingdom – Aksum] * [http://www.ethiopiantreasures.co.uk/pages/mekele.htm Ethiopian Treasures – Emperor Yohannes IV Castle – Mekele] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061003124143/http://futureobservatory.dyndns.org/9115.htm Future Observatory] – Dam Building in Tigray by David Mercer * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7148096.stm "Tigrayans want end to border row"] by Elizabeth Blunt, ''BBC News'', 20 December 2007 * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iri9Y4A5YfI Tigray: Then and Now] – the son of [[Mohamed Amin]] covers sustainable agriculture in Tigray following the [[Horn of Africa drought]] in 2011. {{Districts of the Tigray Region}} {{First-level administrative divisions of Ethiopia}}{{Portal bar|Ethiopia|Geography|Earth|Africa|Politics}}{{Authority control}} [[Category:Tigray Region| ]] [[Category:Regions of Ethiopia]]
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