# Simret

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Municipality in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Municipality in Tigray, Ethiopia

Simret Municipality Abuna Aregewi church in Zeyi, holding the entrance of the Zeyi cave Simret Location within Ethiopia Coordinates: 13°34′N 39°7′E / 13.567°N 39.117°E / 13.567; 39.117 Country Ethiopia Region Tigray Zone Debub Misraqawi (Southeastern) Woreda Dogu'a Tembien Area • Total 55.16 km2 (21.30 sq mi) Elevation 2,500 m (8,200 ft) Population (2007) • Total 6,448 • Density 117/km2 (300/sq mi) Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)

**Simret** is a municipality in the [Tanqua Millash](/source/Tanqua_Millash) district of the [Tigray Region](/source/Tigray_Region), [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia), which comprises the longest cave of [Tigray](/source/Tigray_Region) in Zeyi,[1] as well as [Ras Alula](/source/Ras_Alula)'s birthplace in Mennewe. The municipality centre is in Dengolo village. Until January 2020, Simret belonged to the [Dogu'a Tembien](/source/Degua_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:[2]

- [Upper basalt](/source/Alaji_Basalts)

- [Interbedded lacustrine deposits](/source/Intra-volcanic_sedimentary_rock_in_North_Ethiopia)

- [Lower basalt](/source/Ashangi_Basalts)

- [Amba Aradam Formation](/source/Amba_Aradam_Formation)

- Mekelle [Dolerite](/source/Dolerite)[3]

- [Antalo Limestone](/source/Antalo_Limestone)

- [Adigrat Sandstone](/source/Adigrat_Sandstone)

- [Edaga Arbi Glacials](/source/Edaga_Arbi_Glacials)

- [Quaternary](/source/Quaternary) [alluvium](/source/Alluvium)[4]

The Zikuli, Geba and Zeyi gorges allow views on the full stratigrapical succession.

### Geomorphology and soils

The main [geomorphic](/source/Geomorphic) units, with corresponding soil types are:[5]

- Hagere Selam Highlands, along the central basalt and sandstone ridge - Associated soil types - shallow soils with high stone contents (Skeletic [Cambisol](/source/Cambisol), Leptic [Cambisol](/source/Cambisol), Skeletic [Regosol](/source/Regosol)) - moderately deep dark stony [clays](/source/Clay) with good natural fertility (Vertic [Cambisol](/source/Cambisol)) - deep, dark cracking [clays](/source/Clay), temporarily [waterlogged](/source/Waterlogging_(agriculture)) during the wet season (Pellic [Vertisol](/source/Vertisol)) - Inclusions - Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic [Leptosol](/source/Leptosol)) - Rock outcrops and very shallow soils on limestone (Calcaric [Leptosol](/source/Leptosol)) - Deep dark cracking [clays](/source/Clay) with very good natural fertility, [waterlogged](/source/Waterlogging_(agriculture)) during the wet season (Chromic [Vertisol](/source/Vertisol), Pellic [Vertisol](/source/Vertisol)) - Shallow stony dark [loams](/source/Loam) on calcaric material (Calcaric [Regosol](/source/Regosol), Calcaric [Cambisol](/source/Cambisol)) - Brown [loamy](/source/Loam) soils on basalt with good natural fertility ([Luvisol](/source/Luvisol))

- [Adigrat Sandstone](/source/Adigrat_Sandstone) cliff and footslope - Associated soil types - complex of rock outcrops, very stony and very shallow soils ((Lithic) [Leptosol](/source/Leptosol)) - shallow, stony sandy [loam](/source/Loam) soils (Eutric [Regosol](/source/Regosol) and [Cambisol](/source/Cambisol)) - Inclusions - shallow, dry soils with very high amounts of stones (Leptic and Skeletic [Cambisol](/source/Cambisol) and [Regosol](/source/Regosol)) - deep, dark cracking [clays](/source/Clay) with good fertility, but problems of [waterlogging](/source/Waterlogging_(agriculture)) (Chromic and Pellic [Vertisol](/source/Vertisol)) - soils with stagnating water due to an abrupt textural change such as [sand](/source/Sand) over [clay](/source/Clay) (Haplic [Planosol](/source/Planosol))

See also: [Soil in Dogu'a Tembien](/source/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.[6]

#### Rivers

The [Giba River](/source/Giba_River) is the most important river in the surroundings of the *tabia*. It flows towards [Tekezze River](/source/Tekez%C3%A9_River) and further on to the [Nile](/source/Nile). This river and its tributaries have incised deep gorges which characterise the landscape.[7] The [drainage network](/source/Drainage_system_(geomorphology)) of the *tabia* is organised as follows:[8]

- Giba River, with two tributaries (from upstream to downstream): - [Zeyi River](/source/Zeyi_River), at the border of *tabias* Simret and [Walta](/source/Walta_(Dogu'a_Tembien)) - [Gereb Awehi (Mennewe) River](/source/Zikuli_River), in *tabia* Simret and [Abergele (woreda)](/source/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 floods](/source/Flash_flood). Especially at the begin of the rainy season they are brown-coloured, evidencing high soil [erosion](/source/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:[9]

- 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.[10] 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[11]

### Settlements

The *tabia* centre Dengolo holds a few administrative offices, a health post, a primary school, and some small shops.[9] There are a few more primary schools across the *tabia*. The main other populated places are:[8]

Mennewe Addi Gumare Drgza Elalla Blbla Zeyi Godba Addi Shinqur Kemishana

## Agriculture and livelihood

Cattle shed in Zeyi

The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by [farmlands](/source/Farmland) which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the [agricultural system](/source/Agricultural_system) is a permanent upland [farming system](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Farming_system&action=edit&redlink=1).[12] The farmers have adapted their [cropping systems](/source/Cropping_system) to the spatio-temporal variability in rainfall.[13] Especially the youngsters will go to the deep gorges of Giba and Zeyi rivers, near Kemishana, to harvest [incense](/source/Incense) from [Boswellia papyrifera](/source/Boswellia_papyrifera) trees.[14]

Ras Alula in 1897

## History and culture

### History

The history of the *tabia* is strongly confounded with the [history of Tembien](/source/History_of_Tembien). Particularly, [Ras Alula](/source/Ras_Alula) was born in [Mennewe](/source/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.[15] Later, he was to become one of the most famous African generals.

### Religion and churches

Most inhabitants are [Orthodox Christians](/source/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church). The following churches are located in the *tabia*:

- Abune Aregawi in Zeyi, a monastery that holds the entrance to the Zeyi cave[1][16]

- 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](/source/Mekelle) through [Hagere Selam](/source/Hagere_Selam_(Degua_Tembien)) winds down towards [Abiy Addi](/source/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](/source/Mekelle) make the *tabia* fit for tourism.[17] As compared to many other mountain areas in [Ethiopia](/source/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.[18]

Forest of Mennewe Libanos monastery

### Touristic attractions

- Mennewe monastery and birthplace of [Ras Alula](/source/Ras_Alula)

- Zeyi cave in [Antalo Limestone](/source/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](/source/Stalactites), [stalagmites](/source/Stalagmites), decametre-high columns, [bell-holes](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bell-holes&action=edit&redlink=1) following joints, and [speleothems](/source/Speleothems) on walls and floor.[19][1]

### Trekking routes

A trekking route has been established in this *tabia*.[20] The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded GPX files.[21] Starting from [Inda Maryam Qorar](/source/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

- [Dogu'a Tembien](/source/Degua_Tembien) district.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-zeyi_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-zeyi_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-zeyi_1-2) [The Zeyi Cave Geosite in Northern Ethiopia](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12371-020-00446-7)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Sembroni, A.; Molin, P.; Dramis, F. (2019). [*Regional geology of the Dogu'a Tembien massif. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains — The Dogu'a Tembien District*](https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546). SpringerNature. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Tefera, M.; Chernet, T.; Haro, W. *Geological Map of Ethiopia (1:2,000,000)*. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Moeyersons, J. and colleagues (2006). "Age and backfill/overfill stratigraphy of two tufa dams, Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia: Evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene wet conditions". *Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology*. **230** (1–2): 162–178. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2006PPP...230..165M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006PPP...230..165M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.07.013](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2005.07.013).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-plosone_5-0)** Nyssen, Jan; Tielens, Sander; Gebreyohannes, Tesfamichael; Araya, Tigist; Teka, Kassa; Van De Wauw, Johan; Degeyndt, Karen; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Amare, Kassa; Haile, Mitiku; Zenebe, Amanuel; Munro, Neil; Walraevens, Kristine; Gebrehiwot, Kindeya; Poesen, Jean; Frankl, Amaury; Tsegay, Alemtsehay; Deckers, Jozef (2019). ["Understanding spatial patterns of soils for sustainable agriculture in northern Ethiopia's tropical mountains"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6804989). *PLOS ONE*. **14** (10) e0224041. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2019PLoSO..1424041N](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019PLoSO..1424041N). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1371/journal.pone.0224041](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0224041). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6804989](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6804989). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [31639144](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31639144).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-clim_6-0)** Jacob, M. and colleagues (2019). "Dogu'a Tembien's Tropical Mountain Climate". *Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains*. GeoGuide. SpringerNature. pp. 45–61. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_3](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-030-04955-3_3). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199105560](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199105560).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-chapriver_7-0)** Amanuel Zenebe, and colleagues (2019). "The Giba, Tanqwa and Tsaliet Rivers in the Headwaters of the Tekezze Basin". *Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains*. GeoGuide. SpringerNature. pp. 215–230. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_14](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-030-04955-3_14). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199099067](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199099067).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-chapmap_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-chapmap_8-1) Jacob, M. and colleagues (2019). [*Geo-trekking map of Dogu'a Tembien (1:50,000). In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains — The Dogu'a Tembien District*](https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546). SpringerNature. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-farmersbook_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-farmersbook_9-1) [*What do we hear from the farmers in Dogu'a Tembien? \[in Tigrinya\]*](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311151542). Hagere Selam, Ethiopia. 2016. p. 100.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Nigussie Haregeweyn, and colleagues (2006). ["Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems"](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fldr.698). *Land Degradation and Development*. **17**: 211–230. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/ldr.698](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fldr.698). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [129834993](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:129834993).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tandfonline_11-0)** Kaatje Segers, Joost Dessein, Jan Nyssen, Mitiku Haile & Jozef Deckers (8 June 2011). ["Developers and farmers intertwining interventions: the case of rainwater harvesting and food-for-work in Degua Temben, Tigray, Ethiopia"](https://lirias.kuleuven.be/handle/123456789/199397). *International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability*. **6** (3): 173–182. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3763/ijas.2008.0366](https://doi.org/10.3763%2Fijas.2008.0366). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [154026513](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:154026513).{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Nyssen, J.; Naudts, J.; De Geyndt, K.; Haile, Mitiku; Poesen, J.; Moeyersons, J.; Deckers, J. (2008). "Soils and land use in the Tigray highlands (Northern Ethiopia)". *Land Degradation and Development*. **19** (3): 257–274. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/ldr.840](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fldr.840). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [128492271](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:128492271).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Frankl, A. and colleagues (2013). ["The effect of rainfall on spatio‐temporal variability in cropping systems and duration of crop cover in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands"](https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/3123393). *Soil Use and Management*. **29** (3): 374–383. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/sum.12041](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fsum.12041). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[1854/LU-3123393](https://hdl.handle.net/1854%2FLU-3123393). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [95207289](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:95207289).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Moens, T. and colleagues (2019). "Boswellia Incense in the Giba River Gorge". *Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains*. GeoGuide. SpringerNature. pp. 293–300. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_19](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-030-04955-3_19). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199113310](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199113310).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** 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.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [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)](https://aasjournal.spbu.ru/article/view/7770/5710)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [*Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains — The Dogu'a Tembien District*](https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030049546). GeoGuide. SpringerNature. 2019. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-030-04955-3). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199294303](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199294303).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Nyssen, Jan (2019). "Logistics for the Trekker in a Rural Mountain District of Northern Ethiopia". *Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains*. GeoGuide. Springer-Nature. pp. 537–556. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_37](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-030-04955-3_37). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199198251](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199198251).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Causer, D. (1962). "A cave in Ethiopia". *Wessex Cave Club Journal*. **7**: 91–94.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Nyssen, Jan (2019). "Description of Trekking Routes in Dogu'a Tembien". *Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains*. GeoGuide. Springer-Nature. pp. 557–675. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_38](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-030-04955-3_38). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-030-04954-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-030-04954-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199271514](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199271514).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-openstreetmap_21-0)** ["Public GPS traces tagged with nyssen-jacob-frankl"](https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces/tag/nyssen-jacob-frankl). *OpenStreetMap*. Retrieved 2019-10-11.

Places adjacent to Simret Menachek Mizan Seret Agbe Simret Walta Seraqo (Saharti Samre)

v t e Tabias (municipalities) in the Dogu’a Tembien woreda (district) Addi Azmera Addilal Addi Walka Amanit Arebay Aregen Ayninbirkekin Debre Nazret Degol Woyane Emni Ankelalu Haddinnet Hagere Selam Inda Sillasie Lim'at Mahbere Sillasie Melfa Menachek Mika'el Abiy Mizan Mizane Birhan Selam Seret Simret Walta

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