Hawzen (woreda)

Hawzen is one of the 36 woredas in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Misraqawi Zone, Hawzen is bordered on the south by Wukro, on the west by the Mehakelegnaw (Central) Zone, on the north by Ganta Afeshum, and on the east by Saesi Tsaedaemba. Towns in Hawzen include Hawzen and Megab.

The western portion of this woreda covers a region of northern Ethiopia known as Gar'alta. As described by Philip Briggs, the Gar'alta is "a fantastic spaghetti-western landscape of flat dry plains and towering rock outcrops" best known for its "35-odd rock-hewn churches, the largest concentration anywhere in Ethiopia." [Philip Briggs, "Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide", 3rd edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2002), p. 250.]

There are several local monolithic churches in this woreda. These include: Hawzen Tekle Haymanot (near Hawzen town); Abuna Yemata Guh and Maryam Qorqor (near Megab); and Dugem Selassie, Debre Tsion Aruna Abraham and Yohannes Maikudi (near the village of Dugem). [Described by Briggs in "Ethiopia", 3rd edition, pp. 250-256.]

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 124,688, of whom 64,050 were males and 60,638 were females; 6,664 or 5.34% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of19.6%. With an estimated area of 805.95 square kilometers, Hawzen has an estimated population density of 154.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 141.59. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Tables B.3 and B.4]

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