Gish Abay

Coordinates: 10°59′N 37°13′E / 10.983°N 37.217°E / 10.983; 37.217
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gish Abay
UTC+3 (EAT
)

Gish Abay is a town in west-central

woreda
.

Based on figures from the

Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Gish Abay has an estimated total population of 3,385 of whom 1,615 are men and 1,770 are women.[1]
The 1994 census reported this town had a total population of 1,959 of whom 850 were men and 1,109 were women.

Source of the Blue Nile

Gish Abay is best known as the source of the

Robert Cheesman was one of the later discoverers who published a geographical description of the area.[2] A more recent expedition is made by a group of American navigators who navigate the river from its source at Gish to the Mediterranean Sea, led by geologist Pasquale Scaturro, whose adventure was related in the film Mystery of the Nile
.

About 100 meters north of the source of Abay is the church of Gish Abay Felege Ghion Abune Zerabruk Monastery, which has been one of the most respected centers for church education over the past centuries. Although local inhabitants believe the monastery was founded in the 17th century by a local saint called Abune Zerabruk, whose memory is honored with a celebration at the church each year on Tir 13 (January 20), Cheesman speculated that the name of the saint is a corruption of the explorer James Bruce.[2] There is also another church in the town, dedicated to Saint Mary, with considerable spiritual significance. Together with other sites in Sekela woreda, like Fasildes Castle and Lake Gudera, Gish Abay is now identified as a notable tourist destination in Gojjam.[citation needed]

History

The town is founded in a place called Yideb, a mountainous area where Italian occupation forces fortified during the

British forces. Then, the area was used as a base for the liberation forces, which attracted the local people to settle at Yideb. The settlement led to the foundation of Gish Abay which soon became an important market center for cereals and cattle. Its development continued until the lack of suitable space on the mountainous area of Yideb limited further expansion, and led in 1987 to the town being re-established at a location much closer to Mount Gish and the source of Abay.[citation needed
]

Modern education was introduced in 1952 with the opening of Dejazmach Zelleke Desta Elementary School. Now there are another two schools serving the town: the Gish Abay Elementary and Junior High School, and the Abay Minch Secondary and Preparatory High School. The town is connected by a 39 km gravel road to

Debre Marqos-Bahir Dar road. Another road, which will connect Gish Abay to Adet is also under construction, which will make the distance with Bahir Dar less than 100 km.[citation needed
]

Notes

  1. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics Archived November 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Table B.4
  2. ^ a b "Local History in Ethiopia" The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 27 April 2008)

10°59′N 37°13′E / 10.983°N 37.217°E / 10.983; 37.217

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