Mendefera

{{more footnotes|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Mendefera | native_name = መንደፈራ<br>منديفيرا | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Road signs in Mendefera - Eritrea.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = Road signs in Mendefera | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Eritrea | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Eritrea | subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Eritrea|Region]] | subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Eritrea.svg|25px]] [[Eritrea]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Debub]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Eritrea|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Mendefera District|Mendefera]] | established_title = | established_date = | government_type = | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Eskyas Wubet | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_land_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2012 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 63,492 | population_urban = | population_metro = 64000 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|14|53|14|N|38|48|55|E|region:ER|display=inline}} | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 1972 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]] | blank_info = [[Semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|BSh]] | website = }}

'''Mendefera''' ([[Tigrinya language|Tigrinya]]: መንደፈራ), formerly '''Adi Ugri''', is an ancient town which is now the capital city of the [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Southern Region]] or [[Southern region (Eritrea)|Zoba Debub]] of [[Eritrea]].<ref name="One World - Nations Online">One World-Nations Online, All countries of the world, Map of Eritrea</ref> The town's name derives from the high hill in the center of the city and it means that "who dared it" (in English) or "መን ደፈራ"( in Tigrinya) as it was a jungle and is a source of pride to Eritreans. The city is a reminder of the local anti-colonial movement.

==History== The area around Mendefera evolved into an important region in the [[Aksumite]] civilisation. Though satisfactory excavations have not yet been made, a graveyard dating back to the 2nd century BCE has been found. It contained skeletons, pottery, necklace and bronze bracelets. Numerous buildings have been excavated since 1959, with both [[cross]]es and local and [[Roman coin]]s found. Many areas, including [[tomb]]s, have yet to be explored.<ref name="Dr.Federica">Dr.Federica, Crivellellero. " Archeologists in Eritrea target unfunded ' rescue excavations, Sudan Tribun Dec 5, 2004</ref>

The modern town of Mendefera was built during the Italian era. The town is now bustling market town in a fertile region of Eritrea. It is a place where small and large scale factories produce different products.

Mendefera is famous for its anticolonial movement during the Italian colonial administration and is a great fighter contributor of the [[Eritrean Liberation Front]] (ELF) as it is home to one of the oldest schools in Eritrea, [[San Giorgio School]].

==Climate== Mendefera has a borderline climate that borders both on a [[semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|cool semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'') and a [[subtropical highland climate]] (''Cwb''). Except during the humid wet season of July and August when heavy cloud cover depresses temperatures by around {{convert|5|C-change|F-change|disp=or}}, daytime temperatures are very warm to hot; however, the thin, dry air means that mornings are pleasantly cool throughout the year. {{Weather box|location = Mendefera |metric first = yes |single line = yes |temperature colour = pastel |Jan high C = 27.8 |Feb high C = 28.5 |Mar high C = 30.0 |Apr high C = 30.0 |May high C = 29.5 |Jun high C = 28.2 |Jul high C = 23.3 |Aug high C = 22.6 |Sep high C = 27.5 |Oct high C = 27.5 |Nov high C = 26.6 |Dec high C = 26.6 |Jan low C = 8.0 |Feb low C = 9.2 |Mar low C = 11.1 |Apr low C = 12.0 |May low C = 12.7 |Jun low C = 12.6 |Jul low C = 11.7 |Aug low C = 12.3 |Sep low C = 12.2 |Oct low C = 9.7 |Nov low C = 8.6 |Dec low C = 8.1 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 0 |Feb rain mm = 4 |Mar rain mm = 12 |Apr rain mm = 28 |May rain mm = 41 |Jun rain mm = 57 |Jul rain mm = 190 |Aug rain mm = 189 |Sep rain mm = 50 |Oct rain mm = 11 |Nov rain mm = 16 |Dec rain mm = 4 |source 1 = Climate-Data<ref name="climate">{{cite web |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/31383/ |title=Climate-Data : Eritrea |accessdate=11 July 2013}}</ref> |date=July 2013}}

==See also== *[[Mendefera District]]

==References== {{Reflist}} *[http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-871472&fid=1679&c=eritrea Mendefera]

[[Category:Aksumite cities]] [[Category:Southern region (Eritrea)]] [[Category:Regional capitals in Eritrea]] [[Category:Populated places in Eritrea]]