Bahir Dar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bahir Dar ባሕር ዳር
Capital city
From top: The Blue Nile with the city of Bahir Dar; Lake Tana; Bezawit St. Mary Church; Ura Kidane Mehret Church; Bahir Dar Central Mosque; Blue Nile Falls
Bahir Dar Location in Ethiopia Show map of Ethiopia Bahir Dar Location in Horn of Africa Show map of Horn of Africa Bahir Dar Location in Africa Show map of Africa
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Amhara
Zone	Bahir Dar Special Zone
Area
• Total	213.44 km2 (82.41 sq mi)
Elevation	1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Population  (2007)
• Total	221,991
• Estimate  (2023)	474,743
• Density	1,040.063/km2 (2,693.75/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Area code(s)	(+251) 58

Bahir Dar (Amharic: ባሕር ዳር, meaning "sea shore") is a major city in Ethiopia. It is the capital of the Amhara Region. Bahir Dar is a popular place for tourists in Ethiopia. It has many interesting sights near Lake Tana and the Blue Nile river. The city is famous for its wide streets with palm trees and many colorful flowers. In 2002, Bahir Dar won a special award from UNESCO. This award was for how well the city handled its fast growth.

History of Bahir Dar

Early Beginnings

The area where Bahir Dar now stands was first called Bahir Giyorgis. Between 1810 and 1900, about 1,200 to 2,000 people lived there. It started as a monastery and became a place for trading. In the 1800s, visitors from Europe described it as a small village or town.

Growing in the 20th Century

In the early 1900s, British teams visited Bahir Dar. They wanted to build a dam where the Blue Nile leaves Lake Tana. In 1930, the Ethiopian government sent its own experts. They said Bahir Dar was a village with a lot of trade. People came from inland and from Lake Tana ports to trade.

At that time, Bahir Dar had different areas where people lived. These areas were based on people's social groups. Important groups included religious leaders and local landowners. There were also groups of craftspeople like tanners and weavers. They all depended on each other for trade.

Aerial view of Bahir Dar in 1938

In May 1936, Italian forces took over Bahir Dar. They added modern features to the city. They changed how land was owned, allowing private ownership. They also set aside land for government buildings, an airport, and port facilities. New areas for homes and shops were created.

Bahir Dar became connected by boat to other Lake Tana ports. Roads were built to connect it with other cities like Gonder and Addis Ababa. The city's look and social life changed a lot. New communities formed, and different cultures mixed. Shops, cafes, and restaurants opened, often run by foreigners.

After 1941, the Ethiopian government took control again. Bahir Dar became an important administrative center. In 1945, it became a municipality, which is like having its own local government. In the 1950s, people even thought about making it a new capital city for Ethiopia.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Bahir Dar grew very fast. It became a key center for trade and transport. A new city plan was made by German experts. This plan completely changed Bahir Dar's appearance. It grew into a center for industry and business. The city got a water supply, hydroelectric power, and better port facilities. A bridge was built over the Abbay River. Textile factories, a hospital, and colleges were also built. These colleges later became Bahir Dar University.

During the Ethiopian Civil War, there were battles around Bahir Dar. In 1991, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took control of the city. In the 1990s, Bahir Dar continued to grow and expand. It became the capital of the Amhara National State. A new economic policy helped bring in more businesses and investments. Today, Bahir Dar is a hub for government, business, industry, transport, health, education, and tourism.

21st Century Events

In January 2007, Bahir Dar hosted a big trade fair. Over 150 local and foreign companies took part.

In June 2019, there were serious events in the Amhara Region. Some government officials in Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa were killed. These events were part of an attempted coup. General Asaminew Tsige was later reported to have been killed in Bahir Dar.

Geography of Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar is located where the Abbay River flows out of Lake Tana. It is about 1,820 metres (5,970 ft) above sea level. The city is about 578 km northwest of Addis Ababa. The Lake Tana area was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015. This means it is a special place where nature is protected.

Climate

Bahir Dar has a warm climate all year round. It has a tropical savanna climate, which means it has a wet season and a dry season. The days are usually warm or hot, and the mornings are cool. During the dry season, the temperature changes a lot between day and night.

People of Bahir Dar

A street in Bahir Dar

In 2007, Bahir Dar Special Zone had a population of 221,991 people. Most of these people (81.16%) lived in the city. Bahir Dar is one of Ethiopia's fastest-growing cities. From 2007 to 2023, its population grew by about 5.31% each year.

Ethnic Groups and Languages

In 2007, the largest ethnic group in Bahir Dar was the Amhara (96.23%). Other groups included the Tigrayan (1.11%) and the Oromo (1.10%).

Most people (96.77%) spoke Amharic as their first language. Some also spoke Oromiffa (1.03%) or Tigrinya (0.98%).

Ethnic groups of Bahir Dar as of 2007^[update]      Amhara (96.23%)     Tigrayan (1.11%)     Oromo (1.10%)     Other (1.56%)

The Wayto Community

The Wayto people have lived in Bahir Dar for a long time. In 1938, a visitor noted their villages along the lake. Today, the Wayto live in three separate villages within Bahir Dar. Their homes are traditionally made of clay and have thatched roofs.

The Wayto have a unique traditional lifestyle. They are known for their close connection to Lake Tana and the Nile River. Because of their different customs, they have sometimes faced challenges in the community. For example, they may have limited access to city services like education and healthcare.

The Wayto villages sometimes have to move. This can happen because their traditional lands are wanted by others. Also, the Wayto often do not have official land ownership papers. This makes it harder for them to keep their homes in one place.

Religions

A mural in a church on Lake Tana, near Bahir Dar

In 2007, most people in Bahir Dar (89.72%) were Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. About 8.47% were Muslims, and 1.62% were Protestants.

The Ethiopian Catholic Church also has a cathedral in Bahir Dar. It is the main church for the Ethiopic Catholic Diocese of Bahir Dar–Dessie.

Culture and Attractions

The city has a small daily market and a very large weekly market. You can also find some music clubs here.

The Blue Nile Falls (called Tis Issat) are about 30 km south of Bahir Dar. A hydroelectric power dam has been built there. This dam controls the amount of water flowing over the falls. Even so, the Blue Nile Falls are still a main tourist attraction. They are especially impressive during the rainy season when the water level is high.

The Blue Nile Falls before a hydroelectric system was installed. Now, some water is used for power.

Education in Bahir Dar

Bahir Dar is home to several universities and colleges. The most important one is Bahir Dar University. In October 2012, it was expected to have over 40,000 students. Emperor Haile Selassie opened the Technical School at Bahir Dar University in 1963.

Bahir Dar University is one of the largest universities in Ethiopia. It has about 45,000 students. They can choose from 65 undergraduate and 67 graduate programs. The university helps Ethiopia reach its goal of becoming a "middle-income" country by 2025. It has eleven research centers to support this goal.

The university also helps improve education for younger students. It trains teachers to help more people learn to read and write. This also creates more job and higher education chances for citizens. The university offers degrees in science and health. This helps address the need for more healthcare workers in Ethiopia.

Other colleges in Bahir Dar include Alkan University College. The Institute of Land Administration was also started in Bahir Dar in 2006.

The city has many government schools, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) high school. There are also private schools like Bahir Dar Academy and Rispins International School.

Getting Around Bahir Dar

Front entrance to the Bahir Dar Ginbot Haya Airport.

Bahir Dar has an airport called Bahir Dar Airport. There are many flights each day to and from Addis Ababa. The airport's runway was made longer for international flights. This helps send flowers and other products out of the country by air.

You can also travel to Bahir Dar by road. Buses connect the city to other places. The easiest way to get around Bahir Dar itself is by cycling. You can also use auto rickshaws or shared taxis. Bus companies like Selam Bus Line and Sky Bus Transport System offer daily trips to the capital.

A new road bridge is being built across the Nile River. This bridge will soon carry the main road to the northern parts of the city and towards Gondar.

Sports

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Bahir Dar. The city has two main sports stadiums. The Bahir Dar Stadium can hold 60,000 people. The Bahir Dar University Stadium can hold 15,000 people.

Sister Cities

Bahir Dar is connected to other cities around the world. These are called "sister cities":

• Ashdod, Israel (since 2011)
• Cleveland, United States (since 2004)
• Madison, United States (since 2018)
• Oakland, United States (since 2010)

See also

In Spanish: Bahir Dar para niños