North Gondar (Amharic: ሰሜን ጎንደር; or Semien Gondar) is a zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This zone is named for the city of Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia until the mid-19th century.
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👉 North Gondar Zone in the context of Beta Israel
The Beta Israel, or Ethiopian Jews, are a Jewish group originating in the Amhara and Tigray regions of northern Ethiopia, where they were historically spread out across more than 500 small villages. The majority were concentrated in what is today North Gondar Zone, Shire Inda Selassie, Wolqayit, Tselemti, Dembia, Segelt, Quara, and Belesa. A large wave of Aliyah from Ethiopia starting in the 1980s brought most Beta Israel to Israel, and several Israeli government initiatives have facilitated their emigration. The majority of Beta Israel now live in Israel.
As of the end of 2023, approximately 171,600 Jews of Ethiopian descent were living in Israel, including around 93,600 born in Ethiopia and 78,000 born in Israel to Ethiopian-born parents. The Beta Israel community was classed under the 1950 Law of Return in by Yitzhak Rabin, following halakhic and legal debates over their status. Thus, the Israeli government, with support from the United States, began a large-scale secret mission to conduct transport operations and bring the Beta Israel to Israel in multiple waves This decision led to a series of major airlift operations to bring them to Israel, including Operation Moses (1984), Operation Joshua (1985), and Operation Solomon (1991).
In this Dossier
North Gondar Zone in the context of Gondar
Gondar, also spelled Gonder (Amharic: ጎንደር, Gonder or Gondär; formerly ጐንደር, Gʷandar or Gʷender), is a city and woreda in Ethiopia. Located in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, Gondar is north of Lake Tana on the Lesser Angereb River and southwest of the Simien Mountains. As of 2021, Gondar has an estimated population of 443,156.
Gondar previously served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city holds the remains of several royal castles, including those in the Fasil Ghebbi UNESCO World Heritage Site for which Gondar has been called the "Camelot of Africa".
North Gondar Zone in the context of Semien Mountains National Park
Simien Mountains National Park is the largest national park in Ethiopia. Located in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, its territory covers the highest parts of the Simien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia.
It is home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The gelada baboon and the caracal, a cat, also occur within the Simien Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the bearded vulture, or lammergeier, with its 3-metre (10 ft) wingspan.
North Gondar Zone in the context of Ras Dashan
Ras Dashen (Amharic: ራስ ዳሸን rās dāshn) is the highest mountain in Ethiopia. Located in the Simien Mountains National Park in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, it reaches an elevation of 4,550 metres (14,930 ft).
The English form "Ras Dashen" is a corruption of its Amharic name, "Ras Dejen", the term used by the Ethiopian Mapping Authority (EMA) that alludes to the traditional head or general who fights in front of the Emperor.
North Gondar Zone in the context of West Gojjam Zone
West Gojjam (Amharic: ምዕራብ ጎጃም) or Mirab Gojjam is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the former province of Gojjam.
West Gojjam is bordered on the south by the Abay River which separates it from the Oromia Region and Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the west by Agew Awi, on the north and northwest by North Gondar and also on the north by South Gondar, and on the east by East Gojjam. Its highest point is Mount Amedamit. Towns in West Gojjam include Bahir Dar, Adet, Finote Selam, Bure, Quarit, Dega Damot, Sekela, Merawi, and Dembecha. Finote Selam is the capital of the zone.