Amde Werq

Amde Werq, which literarily means 'a pillar of gold' in the Amharic language, is the major town in Dehana, Ethiopia.

The town is situated on a plateau surrounded by mountain ranges and low laying farm lands. Agriculture is the main livelihood of people in the surrounding areas. The land, which has been tilled for hundreds of years, has lost some of its topsoil to erosion.

A few of the rural centres adjacent to Amde Werq include: Shaqochiqa, Kiwadera, Kergemnu, Eworge, Bahsage, Tatras, Telush, Gundaitiku, Wagshum Demo, Ziya, Silda, Debba, Argoba, Laamma and Attilba. Biwool, which is situated immediately east of Amde Werq is the highest mountain in the area. Geologically speaking, Amde Werq is a sandstone country. The main rivers around Amde Werk are the Sebeha, Ebbi and Merri. The biggest river in the area is the Tekezé.

One of the dominant tree species around the town used to be Woyrra or African Olive. As a result of land clearing for agriculture, firewood and housing purposes, the countryside around Amde-Werq is devoid of its original/natural vegetation. Nowadays, Behar Zaff, a Eucalyptus species imported from Australia some 100 years ago, appears to dominate the landscape.

As a result of habitat modification, many of the native animals are not seen as frequently as they used to be seen some 30 years ago. In the 1980's hundreds of Gelada baboons used to come to the northern edge of the town, close to the Hailu Kebede Primary School. It is possible the baboons commonly known by the locals as Chiladas may still come close to the town but at a highly decreased number.