By road and track the area is 180 km north of Addis Ababa. The Jemma and Jara rivers are mainly difficult of access, at the bottom of steep-sided gorges that have been cut through basalt to expose the underlying large blocks of limestone and sandstone.
The bottoms the valleys comprise gently sloping land, and the rivers have created gravel flood-plains of varying width. The altitude at the Jemma river-crossing is 1,300 m, and 2,000 m at the top of the gorge.
Within 30 km of its source at Lake Tana, the Blue Nile River enters a canyon which it does not leave for 400 km. From all over the highlands, huge rivers pour into the Blue Nile Gorge. For a million years the Blue Nile has been carving this huge gash through the Ethiopian Highlands. Nearly 20km wide and over 600km long, this is Africa’s own Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon in Arizona, U.S.A. and the Blue Nile Gorge have their similarities and differences.
Zengena Lake is a crater lake located in Awi Zone of Amhara Region in Ethiopia. The lake is situated between the towns Injibara and Kessa only 200 m from the Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar Highway with an elevation of 2500 m. The diameter of the lake is roughly 1 km.
Lake Tana, the largest lake, in Ethiopia is the source and from where the famed Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum, and on to the Mediterranean. The 37 islands that are scattered about the surface of the lake shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th century. However, it should be noted that most of the religious houses are not open to women. The most interesting islands are: Birgida Mariam, Dega Estephanos , Dek, Narga, Tana Cherkos, Mitsele Fasiledes, Kebran and Deber Maryam.
Kebran Gabriel is the principal monastery visited by male tourists, with its impressive cathedral – like building first build at the end of the 17th century. Dega Estephanos, which is also closed to women, is on an island in the lake, and the monastery is reached by a very steep and winding path. Although the church is relatively new (only hundred years old), it houses a madonna painted in the 15th century. However, the treasury of the Monastery is a prime attraction, with the remains of several Emperors, as well as their robes and jewels.
On the banks of the lake are many more religious houses, such as Ura Kidane Mehret and Narga Selassie, many of which are also open to be visited by women.
Near Gorgora, at the northern end of the lake, the Susneyos palace is a forerunner of the magnificent palaces and castles of Gonder, and dates from the reign of Emperor Susneyos. In the same area the medieval church of Debre Sina mariam is particularly important.
A sail or cruise on Lake Tana is one of the most pleasant excursions for visitors to this region, particularly in the heart of the summer. Along the lakeshore bird life, both local and migratory visitors, make this an ideal place for birdwatchers.
Bird lovers will not want to miss Fasiladas Island, which is especially famous as an important wetland. The whole of the Lake Tana region and the Blue Nile Gorge have a wide variety of birds both endemic and visitors. The variety of habitats, from rocky crags to riverain forests and important wetlands, ensure that many other different species should be spotted.
The river Nile, over 800 Km in length with in Ethiopia and the longest river in Africa, holds part of its heart in Ethiopia. From Lake Tana, the Blue Nile, known locally as Abbay, flows for 800 Km within Ethiopia to meet the White Nile in Khartoum to form the great river. It has been said that the Blue Nile contributes up to 80 % of the Nile’s flow. Nowhere, is it more spectacular than where it thunders over the Tisisat Falls literally “Smoking Water” – near Bahir Dar. Here millions of gallons of water cascade over the cliff face and into a gorege, creating spectacular rainbows, in one of the most awe-inspiring displays in Africa.
The Blue Nile falls can easily be reached from Bahir Dar and the scenic beauty of the Blue Nile Gorge, 225 Km from Addis Ababa, can be enjoyed as part of an excursion from the capital.
The Danakil depression as sometimes known as Afar Depression is geological depression results from the presence of a tectonic triple near the horn of Africa .It covers the part of Ethiopia region of Afar, Eritrea, Red Sea and Djibouti. The Afar region is known for its being the cradle of hominids. In 1974, archeologist found an old fossil called Lucy with the age of 3.2 millions.
The Denakil Depression includes the Afar desert and the lowest place in the planet, Dallol, one of the hottest year round .There is no rain for most of the year but the Awash River ends in chain of salt lakes, where its water evaporates as quickly as it is supplied. The people who are living in the region are Afar tribes, they are pastoralists and some of them engaged in salt mining as the depression is covered with salt.
The most attraction in the region is Ertale. Active volcano, which is so magnificent attraction due to its different colorful lava flowing from the crust of the earth.
Wonchi crater lake is located on the mountain range between the town of Ambo and Woliso.This beautiful lake is situated at altitude of about 3000m above sea level. Wonchi contains hot prings, waterfalls and breathtaking valleys and scenery. In the island, an old monastry named Cherkos is found. Beside all this Wonchi is the home of indigenous forest reserves. Wonchi is a paradise for trekkers.
It is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty. The Web River vanishes in to the giant underground world with its arched portals, high eroded ceilings and deep vaulted echoing chambers. These caves now an important Islamic Shrine named after the saintly Sheikh Sof Omar, who took refuge here many centuries ago, have a religious history that predates the arrival of the Muslims in Bale – a history calibrated in thousands. The eerie but beautiful Sof Omar cave system is one of the most spectacular and extensive underground cave systems in the world.
Tiya is a megalithic site located at about 80km south of Addis Ababa in Soddo area on the road to Butajira. The monuments are supposed to be remains of medieval Ethiopia culture apparently dated from the 12th to 14th centuries. However, the local people claimed that they were the grave marker of the soldiers of Ahmed Gragn, dating the site to the 16th century. The Tiya monuments belong to one of stone 160 megalithic sites in the Soddo region. There are more than 45 standing monuments in Tiya. The Tiya grave-markers are decorated with carvings of various representations. The meanings of the symbolic decorations are still open to speculation for various scholars.