Mika'el Abiy

Mika’el Abiy is a ''tabia'' or municipality in the Dogu’a Tembien district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The ''tabia'' centre is in Megesta village, located approximately 7 km to the southeast of the ''woreda'' town Hagere Selam.

Geography

The ''tabia'' stretches down south of the main road towards Rubaksa, which is a wider area with several springs and traditional irrigation. The highest peak is Gumawta (2815 m a.s.l.) on the Tsatsen plateau and the lowest place Rubaksa (1920 m a.s.l.).

Geology and soils

Geological formations

From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:
* Upper basalt
* Interbedded lacustrine deposits
* Lower basalt
* Amba Aradam Formation
* Antalo Limestone
* Quaternary alluvium and freshwater tufa

Soilscape

The main geomorphic units, with corresponding soil types are:
* Hagere Selam Highlands, along the basalt and sandstone ridge
** Associated soil types
*** shallow soils with high stone contents (Skeletic Cambisol, Leptic Cambisol, Skeletic Regosol)
*** moderately deep dark stony clays with good natural fertility (Vertic Cambisol)
*** deep, dark cracking clays, temporarily waterlogged during the wet season (Pellic Vertisol)
** Inclusions
*** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic Leptosol)
*** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils on limestone (Calcaric Leptosol)
*** Deep dark cracking clays with very good natural fertility, waterlogged during the wet season (Chromic Vertisol, Pellic Vertisol)
*** Shallow stony dark loams on calcaric material (Calcaric Regosol, Calcaric Cambisol)
*** Brown loamy soils on basalt with good natural fertility (Luvisol)

* Gently rolling Antalo Limestone plateau, holding cliffs and valley bottoms on limestone
** Associated soil types
*** shallow stony soils with a dark surface horizon overlying calcaric material (Calcaric Leptosol)
*** moderately deep dark stony clays with good natural fertility (Vertic Cambisol)
*** deep, dark cracking clays on calcaric material (Calcaric Vertisol, Calcic Vertisol)
** Inclusions
*** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic Leptosol)
*** Shallow very stony loamy soil on limestone (Skeletic Calcaric Cambisol)
*** Deep dark cracking clays with very good natural fertility, waterlogged during the wet season (Chromic Vertisol, Pellic Vertisol)
*** Brown to dark sands and silt loams on alluvium (Vertic Fluvisol, Eutric Fluvisol, Haplic Fluvisol) and colluvium (Calcaric Regosol)

Springs

As there are no permanent rivers, the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. The following are the main springs in the tabia:
* May Zahla in Dingilet
* May Ayni in Rubaksa

Livelihood

The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by farmlands which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent upland farming system, and the population are not nomads.

Population

The ''tabia'' centre Megesta holds a few administrative offices and some small shops. The villages close to Hagere Selam (Dingilet and Harena) have established a new settlement, at the margin of Hagere Selam, where the inhabitants benefit from the proximity of the town. The main other populated places in the ''tabia'' are:

Religion and churches

Most inhabitants are Orthodox Christians. The following churches are located in the ''tabia'':

Legends and myths

In Megesta, there is a strong story about the Queen of Sheba who was transformed in a snake; the track of the snake is represented by a line of trees up to now. In the northern part of Harena, called Argak'a, there is a large rock of more than 50 m² - the story goes that a certain Ilias transported it up to there.

History

The history of the ''tabia'' is strongly confounded with the history of Tembien.

Roads and communication

The main road Mekelle – Hagere Selam – Abiy Addi runs at the north and west of the ''tabia''. Inhabitants mostly move on foot to Hagere Selam from where they can travel further. A rural access road links Hagere Selam to the main villages of Mika’el Abiy.

Schools

Almost all children of the ''tabia'' are schooled, though in some schools there is lack of classrooms, directly related to the large intake in primary schools over the last decades. Schools in the ''tabia'' include Selam Seret school.

Tourism

Its mountainous nature and proximity to Mekelle makes the ''tabia'' fit for tourism.

Touristic attractions

* Dingilet waterfall
* Rubaksa irrigated gardens
* Gumawta peak

Geotouristic sites

The high variability of geological formations and the rugged topography invites for geological and geographic tourism or “geotourism”. Geosites in the ''tabia'' include:

Trekking routes

Trekking routes have been established in this ''tabia''. The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded .GPX files.
* Route 10, from Haddush Addi, through T’eshi to Rubaksa (8 km, from the highest to the lowest places in the ''tabia'')
* Route 11, from Megesta, through Harena to Hagere Selam (8 km)
* Route 16, from Rubaksa to Togogwa (7 km)

''Inda Siwa'', the local beer houses

In the main villages, there are traditional beer houses ('' Inda Siwa''), often in unique settings, which are a good place for resting and chatting with the local people. Most renown in the ''tabia'' are
* Letesillasie Gebrecherkos in Megesta village
* Amit Gebregziabher in Megesta village
* Tsehaynesh Tesfay in Megesta village

Accommodation and facilities

The facilities are very basic. One may be invited to spend the night in a rural homestead or ask permission to pitch a tent. Hotels are available in Hagere Selam and Mekelle.

More detailed information

For more details on environment, agriculture, rural sociology, hydrology, ecology, culture, etc., see the overall page on the Dogu’a Tembien district.

Gallery

File:Alaji_Basalts_provide_fertile_soils.jpg, A farmer ploughing at Haddush Addi.
File:Alaji Basalts near the peak of Gumawta Mt. in Dogu'a Tembien.jpg, View towards Dingilet from Mt Gumawta.
File:DingiletWaterfall.jpg, Waterfall in Dingilet.

References

{{ Tabias (municipalities) of Dogu’a Tembien

Dogu'a Tembien
Populated places in the Tigray Region