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Mugo
Mountain
This
mountain is found in Gumer Woreda of Guraghe Zone.
It is 85 kms away from Wolkite on Wolkite–Hossana
road. After driving 85 kms from Wolkite, one has
to walk for some 20 minutes on foot. Mugo Mountain
has an approximate altitude of 2700 mts above
sea level. On the top of the mountain one can
see all the Neighboring woredas (Cheha, Ezja,
Lemo woreda of Hadiya zone, Yem Special Woreda
and some parts of Jimma Zone etc.)
Mt.
Mugo is not only a tourist attraction area but
also has a military strategic importance. During
the 5 years of Italian occupation (1928-1933 E.C)
the Italian army used this mountain as a fortress.
Mugo
is also a source of Yo, Ayisechi and Balkech rivers.
Mugo town gets its potable water from river Balkech.
Mugo Mountain is a good place for trekking and
mountain climbing.
Lake
Areket
Lake
Areket is one of the tourist attractions of Guraghe
zone. This lake is found in Gumer woreda in a
village of Esena Endangiz. Koto is the name of
the place where the lake is found. The nearby
town of Areket has derived its name from this
lake. Areket town, which is 67 kms from Wolkite,
is also the birthplace of one of the known Ethiopian
artists of the country, Muhamud Ahmed.
Lake
Areket has some bird species. It has also a small
island in the center. The lake is formed from
accumulated floodwater of the rainy season and
people use it for washing their clothes and for
animal consumption. It has about 15 meter depth
and an area of some 30 sq. mts.
Lake Bozebar
This
small lake is found in Ezja Woreda of Guraghe
zone. The lake is situated near a small town,
which shares the name of the lake Bozebar. Lake
Bozebar has an approximate area of 10 hectares.
The surrounding area has an altitude of more than
2000 mts. above sea level. The color of the lake
is red and the volume decreases in dry season.
There are some species of birds on the lake. It
has a beautiful view, which shows the place where
the eastern part of Guraghe is separated from
the western part.
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Acho
Fall
Acho
fall of Wabe River is found between Cheha and
Goro Woredas. Wabe River, which forms this beautiful
fall boarders Gasore and Dubisa kebeles. To visit
the Acho fall, one has to drive 5 kms on Wolkite-Jimma
road and turn to the left, following the old Wolkite
Endibir road for about 3 kms drive and 30 minutes
walk. This fall is probably the most beautiful
and powerful waterfall in Guraghe Zone. Even though
the river flows in a very deep gorge, it has very
impressive scenery.
Acho
fall runs down from about 60 mts high cliff. From
the side of Cheha woreda (i.e. on the left bank),
one can see a large cave above the pond. Wabe
River is a tributary of the Ghibe River. Wild
animals such as Leopard, Hyena, Lion, Rhinoceros,
Antelope, and Cobra and various types of snakes
are found in this river valley. If utilized, Acho
fall has a great potential to generate hydroelectric
power and can contribute a lot in the development
of the zone.
Trer Fall
Trer
is another fall not far from Fokra. It is 2 kms
from Agena town and 42 kms from Wolkite. The village
in which Trer is found is called Geche. Trer fall
surges down from about 70 mts height and then
forms a lake like pond having approximately some
10 mts depth. The pond has an area of about 20
sq. mts. The scenery around the fall and the river
valley is very attractive for tourists.
Fokra Fall
This waterfall is found in a village called Wassamar,
Ezana Wolene Woreda. The fall is 10 kms from the
woreda capital, Agena and 52 kms from Wolkite.
The height of the fall is about 30 mts and below
the fall there is a medium size pond created by
the fall. Between this pond and the cliff from
which the water falls down there are caves. Even
though the volume of the waterfall decreases during
the dry season, the green surrounding of the area
provides a good view for tourist attraction.
Gotam
Fall
Gotam
Fall is found on Gotam River in Cheha Woreda near
Endibir Senior Secondary School, which is 32 kms
away from Wolkite. Under the fall there is a natural
cave named Gotam. The fall surges down from about
50-60 mts heights. It is 2 kms away from the woreda
capital Endibir.
Walga
Fall
This
fall is in Goro woreda. After driving 14 kms on
the main asphalt road from Wolkite to Jimma direction,
one has to turn to the right and drive for 11
km to a town called Walga. This gravel road extends
to Tolay, a military training center established
during the reign of the Derg. Driving a kilometer
to the left direction after Walga town and before
crossing the bridge on the river is the beautiful
fall of Walga. Swiss missionaries live on the
right side of the river and they have constructed
a small dam to generate electricity. The fall
is found next to the dam. It has a height of some
30 mts and it creates a deep pond under the fall.
The fall together with the green valley of the
river is a good scenic area. There are also two
small size caves on the right and the left side
of the pond. Wild animals like Cobra, Antelope,
Colobus Monkey, Wild pig etc. are also found in
the valley of river-Walga.
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Medrekebd
Abo Monastery
Medrekebd
Abo monastery is one of the ancient Ethiopian
monasteries, which is found in Guraghe zone. It
is situated in Sodo Woreda in Shewatena Gedam,
Adazer kebele. Medrekebd Abo is 22 kms away from
Bui (woreda capital), 253 kms from Wolkite via
Alem Gena, 120 kms from Addis Ababa and 52 kms
from Butajira.
The 15th century monastery is a burial place of
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church martyr, Abune Gebre
Menfes Kidus. The saint, the legend goes, walked
through the underground tunnel from Medrekebd
monastery to Ziquala mountain where at present
lies a monastery, called Ziquala Abo. The relics
of the monastery were taken to Ziwai island and
survived the destruction during the Gragn Ahmed
invasion of Christian highlands in the first half
of the 16th century. However, the Italian occupants
looted some of the precious relics in 1928–1933
E.C. The new building of Abo monastery was built
by Emperor Menilik II in 1909 E.C. St. Marry church
is found in 2 kms distance from the monastery.
There are about 120 Orthodox Churches only in
Sodo woreda of Guraghe zone.
Muhur
Eyesus Monastery
Muhur
Eyesus Monastery is found in Korer Muhur kebele
of Ezana Wolene woreda, which are 54 kms away
from Wolkite. It is believed that Aba Zena Markos
established the monastery during the times of
King Yekuno Amlak, who restored the Solomonic
Dynasty after the Zagwes. Aba Zena not only established
this monastery but also established 156 other
churchs. There are two church buildings in the
campus. The old one is said to have been built
during the reign of King Yekunu Amlak and the
new one during Emperor Haile Selassie I. Monks
from different parts of the country come to Muhur
Eyesus to learn the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
doctrine.
Ener
Emanuel Monastery
This
monastery is found 59 kms away from Wolkite town
on the gravel road to Hossana, in Enemor and Ener
woreda at a place called Ener Gedam. A priest
named Aba Gada established the monastery during
the reign of Emperor Menelik. Before the establishment
of this monastery, the people of the surrounding
area were followers of paganism. It is the only
monastery in the area, which was protected from
destruction by the Italian occupants. It has one
old and one new church buildings.
Butajira
Mosque
This
beautifully constructed mosque is found in Butajira
town. The building of the mosque was started in
1969 E.C and completed in 1972 E.C. Butajira mosque
has two large praying halls, each entertaining
2500 individuals. The ground floor hall is for
female prayers, while the first floor is for male
prayers. It might be the first in the country
in its kind having an area of 1120 sq. mts.
Tiya
Stelae
These
famous stelae are found in Sodo woreda of Guraghe
Zone at Tiya 01 kebele. Tiya stelae site is one
of the seven sites in Ethiopia registered as a
world heritage by UNESCO. It is 215 kms from Wolkite
via Alemgena, 88 kms from Addis Ababa and 42 kms
from Butajira. There are 40 standing stelae in
3 different places of the site. Most of the stelae
are engraved. Roger Jousaumme, a French archaeologist
excavated the site in 1980 G.C and found stone
artifacts and human skeleton. The site was used
as a burial place of man. The largest of Tiya
stone monoliths is 3.70 meters high.
Geyet
Gereno Stelae
These
stelae are found in Sodo Woreda at Fato Peasant
Association. It is 14 kms away from Bui, town
of Sodo woreda on the road to Aymelel and after
this it takes 25 minutes on foot. The stelae are
more than 100, some laying on the ground and some
standing still. They have flat shapes. The tallest
one is about 2.5 meters in height. Geyet Greno
stelae, locally known as stelae of Gragn Ahmed,
have similarity with that of the Tiya.
Asano
Stele
This
stele is found in Silte woreda, Asano Dubdarera
kebele of Guraghe Zone. It is 8 kms from the woreda
capital, Kibet, on the left side of the main road
from Butajira to Hossana. The stele has a flat
shape with about 1.5 meter height and 80 cms width.
Both sides of the stele are carved. The head of
the stele is broken off. According to the elders
of the village, the place where this stele stands
was a burial place. Nearby the stele, there is
a mosque, which was built 100 years ago.
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