Simret

{{Short description|Municipality in Tigray Region, Ethiopia}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Simret |other_name = |native_name =  |nickname = |settlement_type = Municipality |motto = |image_skyline = Abune_Aregawi_Zeyi_in_Simret.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = [[Abuna Aregewi]] church in Zeyi, holding the entrance of the Zeyi cave |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |city_logo = |citylogo_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Ethiopia |pushpin_label_position = bottom |pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ethiopia |pushpin_mapsize = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Ethiopia]] |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = [[Tigray Region|Tigray]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Zones of Ethiopia|Zone]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Debub Misraqawi Zone|Debub Misraqawi (Southeastern)]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Ethiopia|Woreda]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Degua Tembien|Dogu'a Tembien]] |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 55.16 |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2007 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 6448 |population_density_km2 = 117 |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]] |utc_offset = +3 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|13|34|N|39|7|E |region:ET|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = 2500 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}  '''Simret''' is a municipality in the [[Tanqua Millash]] district of the [[Tigray Region]], [[Ethiopia]], which comprises the longest cave of [[Tigray Region|Tigray]] in Zeyi,<ref name="zeyi">[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12371-020-00446-7 The Zeyi Cave Geosite in Northern Ethiopia]</ref> as well as [[Ras Alula]]'s birthplace in Mennewe. The municipality centre is in Dengolo village. Until January 2020, Simret belonged to the [[Degua Tembien|Dogu'a Tembien]] district.

== Geography == The ''tabia'' occupies a massive ridge at the southwest of Dogu'a Tembien, between the Zeyi gorge and the large amphitheatre-like valley of Mennewe, through which the main road winds from the lowlands to the Tembien highlands. The southern boundary is the Giba river. The highest peak is at the northern end of the ''tabia'' (2710 m a.s.l.) and the lowest place at the confluence of Zikuli and Giba rivers (1395 m a.s.l.). The difference in elevation is more than 1300 metres.

=== Geology === From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:<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}}</ref> * [[Alaji Basalts|Upper basalt]] * [[Intra-volcanic sedimentary rock in North Ethiopia|Interbedded lacustrine deposits]] * [[Ashangi Basalts|Lower basalt]] * [[Amba Aradam Formation]] * Mekelle [[Dolerite]]<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> * [[Antalo Limestone]] * [[Adigrat Sandstone]] * [[Edaga Arbi Glacials]] * [[Quaternary]] [[alluvium]]<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 |date=2006 |volume=230 |issue=1–2 |pages=162–178 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.07.013 |bibcode=2006PPP...230..165M }}</ref> The Zikuli, Geba and Zeyi gorges allow views on the full stratigrapical succession.

=== Geomorphology and soils === The main [[geomorphic]] units, with corresponding soil types are:<ref name="plosone">{{cite journal |last1= Nyssen|first1= Jan|last2= Tielens|first2= Sander|last3= Gebreyohannes|first3= Tesfamichael|last4= Araya|first4= Tigist|last5= Teka|first5= Kassa|last6= Van De Wauw|first6= Johan|last7= Degeyndt|first7= Karen|last8= Descheemaeker|first8= Katrien|last9= Amare|first9= Kassa|last10= Haile|first10= Mitiku|last11= Zenebe|first11= Amanuel|last12= Munro|first12= Neil|last13= Walraevens|first13= Kristine|last14= Gebrehiwot|first14= Kindeya|last15= Poesen|first15= Jean|last16= Frankl|first16= Amaury|last17= Tsegay|first17= Alemtsehay|last18= Deckers|first18= Jozef|title=Understanding spatial patterns of soils for sustainable agriculture in northern Ethiopia's tropical mountains. |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2019 |volume=14 |issue=10 |article-number=e0224041 |doi= 10.1371/journal.pone.0224041|pmid= 31639144|pmc= 6804989|bibcode= 2019PLoSO..1424041N|doi-access= free}}</ref> * Hagere Selam Highlands, along the central basalt and sandstone ridge ** Associated soil types *** shallow soils with high stone contents (Skeletic [[Cambisol]], Leptic [[Cambisol]], Skeletic [[Regosol]]) *** moderately deep dark stony [[clay]]s with good natural fertility (Vertic [[Cambisol]]) *** deep, dark cracking [[clay]]s, temporarily [[waterlogging (agriculture)|waterlogged]] during the wet season (Pellic [[Vertisol]]) ** Inclusions *** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic [[Leptosol]]) *** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils on limestone (Calcaric [[Leptosol]]) *** Deep dark cracking [[clay]]s with very good natural fertility, [[waterlogging (agriculture)|waterlogged]] during the wet season (Chromic [[Vertisol]], Pellic [[Vertisol]]) *** Shallow stony dark [[loam]]s on calcaric material (Calcaric [[Regosol]], Calcaric [[Cambisol]]) *** Brown [[loam]]y soils on basalt with good natural fertility ([[Luvisol]]) * [[Adigrat Sandstone]] cliff and footslope ** Associated soil types *** complex of rock outcrops, very stony and very shallow soils ((Lithic) [[Leptosol]]) *** shallow, stony sandy [[loam]] soils (Eutric [[Regosol]] and [[Cambisol]]) ** Inclusions *** shallow, dry soils with very high amounts of stones (Leptic and Skeletic [[Cambisol]] and [[Regosol]]) *** deep, dark cracking [[clay]]s with good fertility, but problems of [[waterlogging (agriculture)|waterlogging]] (Chromic and Pellic [[Vertisol]]) *** soils with stagnating water due to an abrupt textural change such as [[sand]] over [[clay]] (Haplic [[Planosol]]) {{See also|Soil in Dogu'a Tembien}}

=== Climate and hydrology === ==== Climate and meteorology ==== The rainfall pattern shows a very high seasonality with 70 to 80% of the annual rain falling in July and August. Mean temperature in Dengolo is 18 °C, oscillating between average daily minimum of 10 °C and maximum of 25.7 °C. In the lowland Kemishana village, at 1430 metres, the mean temperature amounts to 26.7 °C. The contrasts between day and night air temperatures are much larger than seasonal contrasts.<ref name="clim">{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=Dogu'a Tembien's Tropical Mountain Climate |series=GeoGuide |date=2019 |pages=45–61 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_3 |s2cid=199105560 }}</ref>

==== Rivers ==== The [[Giba River]] is the most important river in the surroundings of the ''tabia''. It flows towards [[Tekezé River|Tekezze River]] and further on to the [[Nile]]. This river and its tributaries have incised deep gorges which characterise the landscape.<ref name="chapriver">{{cite book |last1=Amanuel Zenebe |first1=and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=The Giba, Tanqwa and Tsaliet Rivers in the Headwaters of the Tekezze Basin |series=GeoGuide |date=2019 |pages=215–230 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_14 |s2cid=199099067 }}</ref> The [[drainage system (geomorphology)|drainage network]] of the ''tabia'' is organised as follows:<ref name="chapmap">{{cite book |last1=Jacob |first1=M. and colleagues |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 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}</ref> * Giba River, with two tributaries (from upstream to downstream): ** [[Zeyi River]], at the border of ''tabias'' Simret and [[Walta (Dogu'a Tembien)|Walta]] ** [[Zikuli River|Gereb Awehi (Mennewe) River]], in ''tabia'' Simret and [[Abergele (woreda)]] Whereas they are (nearly) dry during most of the year, during the main rainy season, these rivers carry high runoff discharges, sometimes in the form of [[flash flood]]s. Especially at the begin of the rainy season they are brown-coloured, evidencing high soil [[erosion]] rates.

==== Springs ==== As there are no permanent rivers, the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. The main springs in the ''tabia'' are:<ref name="farmersbook">{{cite book | title=What do we hear from the farmers in Dogu'a Tembien? [in Tigrinya] |date=2016 |location=Hagere Selam, Ethiopia |page=100 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311151542}}</ref> * May Fatewa in Addi Gumare * May Neteba in Dagabr * Damtekle in Blbla * Gunfal in Drgza * Mennewe in Mennewe * May Liham in Hitsa

==== Water harvesting ==== In this area with rains that 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. Overall they suffer from siltation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nigussie Haregeweyn |first1=and colleagues |title=Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems |journal=Land Degradation and Development |date=2006 |volume=17 |pages=211–230 |doi=10.1002/ldr.698 |s2cid=129834993 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Yet, they strongly contribute to greening the landscape, either through irrigation or seepage water. Main reservoirs are: * Traditional surface water harvesting ponds, particularly in places without permanent springs, called ''rahaya'' * ''Horoyo'', household ponds, recently constructed through campaigns<ref name="tandfonline">{{cite journal |title=Developers and farmers intertwining interventions: the case of rainwater harvesting and food-for-work in Degua Temben, Tigray, Ethiopia|journal=International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability|volume=6|issue=3|date=8 June 2011|pages=173–182|author=Kaatje Segers, Joost Dessein, Jan Nyssen, Mitiku Haile & Jozef Deckers|doi=10.3763/ijas.2008.0366|s2cid=154026513|url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/199397|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== Settlements === The ''tabia'' centre Dengolo holds a few administrative offices, a health post, a primary school, and some small shops.<ref name="farmersbook"/> There are a few more primary schools across the ''tabia''. The main other populated places are:<ref name="chapmap"/> {| | * Mennewe * Addi Gumare * Drgza * Elalla * Blbla | WIDTH="63" | || * Zeyi * Godba * Addi Shinqur * Kemishana |}

== Agriculture and livelihood == [[File:Cattle shed during transhumance.jpg|thumb|right|Cattle shed in Zeyi]] The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by [[farmland]]s which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the [[agricultural system]] is a permanent upland [[farming system]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Nyssen|first1= J.|last2= Naudts|first2= J.|last3= De Geyndt|first3= K.|last4= Haile|first4= Mitiku|last5= Poesen|first5= J.|last6= Moeyersons|first6= J.|last7= Deckers|first7= J.|title=Soils and land use in the Tigray highlands (Northern Ethiopia) |journal=Land Degradation and Development |date=2008 |volume=19 |issue= 3|pages=257–274 |doi= 10.1002/ldr.840|s2cid= 128492271}}</ref> The farmers have adapted their [[cropping system]]s to the spatio-temporal variability in rainfall.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Frankl |first1=A. and colleagues |title=The effect of rainfall on spatio‐temporal variability in cropping systems and duration of crop cover in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands |journal=Soil Use and Management |date=2013 |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=374–383 |doi=10.1111/sum.12041 |url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/3123393 |hdl=1854/LU-3123393 |s2cid=95207289 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Especially the youngsters will go to the deep gorges of Giba and Zeyi rivers, near Kemishana, to harvest [[incense]] from [[Boswellia papyrifera]] trees.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moens |first1=T. and colleagues |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=Boswellia Incense in the Giba River Gorge |series=GeoGuide |date=2019 |pages=293–300 |publisher=SpringerNature |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_19 |s2cid=199113310 }}</ref>

[[File:Alula Engida.jpg|thumb|left|Ras Alula in 1897]]

== History and culture == === History === The history of the ''tabia'' is strongly confounded with the [[history of Tembien]]. Particularly, [[Ras Alula]] was born in [[Mennewe]], the son of Engda Eqube, a farmer of modest origins. In Alula's childhood, a group of people carrying baskets of bread to a wedding ceremony were stopped by a group of children led by the future ''Ras'', who demanded to know where they were going. "To the Castle of Ras Alula Wedi Qubi," they mockingly replied. Thereafter, his friends and the people of Mannewe nicknamed him Ras Alula.<ref>Haggai Erlich, ''Ras Alula and the Scramble for Africa: A Political Biography: Ethiopia & Eritrea 1875–1897'' (Lawrenceville: Red Sea Press, 1996), p. 5 Erlich states the year of his birth as 1847.</ref> Later, he was to become one of the most famous African generals.

=== Religion and churches === Most inhabitants are [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Orthodox Christians]]. The following churches are located in the ''tabia'': * Abune Aregawi in Zeyi, a monastery that holds the entrance to the Zeyi cave<ref name="zeyi"/><ref>[https://aasjournal.spbu.ru/article/view/7770/5710 Klyuev S. A., Semenova V. N. The Role of Landscape in Semi-rock-hewn and Cave Churches of Tämben and ᵓƎndärta (Tәgray region, Ethiopia). Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Asian and African Studies, 2020, vol. 12, issue 2, pp. 208–229. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu13.2020.204 (In Russian)]</ref> * Abba Gabir in Dagabr * St. Yohannes in Godba * St. Gebriel in Dengolo * Abba Zelibanos and St. Mariam Monastery in Mennewe * Abba Selema in Drgza * Sillasie in Elalla and Blbla

== Roads and communication == The main road from [[Mekelle]] through [[Hagere Selam (Degua Tembien)|Hagere Selam]] winds down towards [[Abiy Addi]] across the Mennewe valley in the northeast of the ''tabia''. There are regular bus services to these towns. Further, a rural access road links Addi Shinqur and Dengolo to the main asphalt road.

== Tourism == Its mountainous nature and proximity to [[Mekelle]] make the ''tabia'' fit for tourism.<ref>{{cite book |title= Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains — The Dogu'a Tembien District |series=GeoGuide |date=2019 |publisher=SpringerNature |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3 |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |s2cid=199294303 |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546}}</ref> As compared to many other mountain areas in [[Ethiopia]] the villages are quite accessible, and during walks visitors may be invited for coffee, lunch or even for an overnight stay in a rural homestead.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Logistics for the Trekker in a Rural Mountain District of Northern Ethiopia|date=2019 |publisher=Springer-Nature |pages=537–556 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_37 |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |series=GeoGuide |last1=Nyssen |first1=Jan |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |s2cid=199198251 }}</ref>

[[File:Mennawe in Simret.jpg|thumb|right|Forest of Mennewe Libanos monastery]]

=== Touristic attractions === * Mennewe monastery and birthplace of [[Ras Alula]] * Zeyi cave in [[Antalo Limestone]], the longest cave in Tigray and ninth longest in Ethiopia. The monumental Zeyi Abune Aregawi church holds the entrance to the cave. The 364-metres long oval gallery displays [[stalactites]], [[stalagmites]], decametre-high columns, [[bell-holes]] following joints, and [[speleothems]] on walls and floor.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Causer |first1=D. |title=A cave in Ethiopia |journal=Wessex Cave Club Journal |date=1962 |volume=7 |pages=91–94}}</ref><ref name="zeyi"/>

=== Trekking routes === A trekking route has been established in this ''tabia''.<ref>{{cite book |date=2019 |publisher=Springer-Nature |pages=557–675 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_38 |series=GeoGuide |last1=Nyssen |first1=Jan |title=Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains |chapter=Description of Trekking Routes in Dogu'a Tembien |isbn=978-3-030-04954-6 |s2cid=199271514 }}</ref> The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded GPX files.<ref name="openstreetmap">{{cite web|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces/tag/nyssen-jacob-frankl|title=Public GPS traces tagged with nyssen-jacob-frankl|website=OpenStreetMap|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref> Starting from [[Inda Maryam Qorar]], trek '''8''' leads directly down to Zeyi church and cave and further across the Zeyi and Giba gorges; the trek route meets Zikuli river and follows it upstream back to the main road, down from Mennewe.

== See also == * [[Degua Tembien|Dogu'a Tembien]] district.

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Geographic location |Centre = Simret |North = [[Seret (Dogu'a Tembien)|Seret]] |East = [[Walta (Dogu'a Tembien)|Walta]] |South = Seraqo ([[Saharti Samre]]) |West = [[Agbe]] |Northwest = [[Menachek]] <br />[[Mizan (Dogu'a Tembien)|Mizan]] }} {{ Tabias (municipalities) of Dogu'a Tembien }}

[[Category:Dogu'a Tembien]] [[Category:Populated places in the Tigray Region]]