Efratana Gidim

Efratana Gidim is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named after two historic districts that were part of the former autonomous kingdom of Shewa, Efrata and Gedem. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Efratana Gidim is bordered on the south by Kewet, on the southwest by Mam Midrina Lalo Midir, on the west by Gera Midira Keya Gebriel, on the north by Antsokiyana Gemza, and on the east by the Oromia Zone. The administrative center of this woreda is Ataye (Efeson); other towns in Efratana Gidim include Jewha and Karakore.

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 141,862 of whom 70,393 were males and 71,469 were females; 28,759 or 20.27% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 11.8%. With an estimated area of 424.53 square kilometers, Efratana Gidim has an estimated population density of 334.2 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 134.37. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Tables B.3 and B.4]

Karakore was the epicenter of a 1961 earthquake swarm, considered one of the most destructive earthquakes in 20th century Ethiopia. The main shock struck 1 June with a magnitude 6.7 on the Richter scale, causing damage up to 250 kilometers from the epicenter. The nearby town of Majete in Antsokiyana Gemza woreda was destroyed, 45% of the houses in Karakore collapsed, 17 kilometers of the main road north of the town were damaged by landslides and fissures, and 5,000 inhabitants in the area were left homeless. [ [http://130.238.24.99/library/resources/dossiers/local_history_of_ethiopia/k/ORTKAR.pdf "Local History in Ethiopia"] (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 4 June 2008)]

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