Afdera

: "This article is about the political division. For the mountain, see Afdera (volcano)."

Afdera is one of the 29 woredas in the Afar Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the saline Lake Afdera, located in the southern part of the Afar Depression. Part of the Administrative Zone 2, Afdera is bordered on the southwest by the Administrative Zone 4, on the west by Erebti and Abala, on the north by Berahle, on the northeast by Eritrea, and on the southeast by Administrative Zone 1. Information is lacking on the towns of this woreda.

The highest peak in Afdera is Mount Mallahle (1875 meters); other mountains in this woreda include Erta Ale and Borawli. Mining is the principal industry in this woreda. The best known resource extracted is salt; according to the Afar Regional Mining and Energy Office, there are 300 active land grants around Lake Afdera, which the Office reports creates 1,800 permanent and over 40,000 part-time jobs. [ [http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2007/May/27May07/29947.htm "Afar State calls on investors to exploit rich mineral potential"] (WIC)]

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 19,381, of whom 8,742 were males and 10,639 were females. Information is not available for the area of Afdera, so its density cannot be calculated. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table B.3. Rural population numbers are believed to be underreported for this woreda.] The ethnic composition of this woreda is predominantly Afar.

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