Bahir dar and Gorgora 3 days
£ 550
Introduction
Gorgora is a town and peninsula in northwestern Ethiopia. It is located south , 60km southwest of Gonder on the north shore of Lake Tana .Gorgora, has a striking tropical vibe for history buffs and all. The former capital city provides the chance to see rarely visited monasteries and makes a good excursion for comfortable escape from the ordinary.
Gorgora served as one of the early capitals of Ethiopia during the reigns of Emperor Susenyos I and his son Fasilides before Fasilides founded Gondar. The city is named after the 4th-century Saint & Church Father Gregory the Illuminator, who is a prominent figure in Ethiopian Orthodox Theology.
Lake Tana and Blue Nile
The Blue Nile and the Lake Tana, located in the North West highlands of Ethiopia in the Amara Regional State, have been a passion that has driven many explorers since historic times. In ancient Greece, the source of the Nile was considered as one of the earth’s most compelling mysteries. A Greek historian, Herodotus, wrote about the Nile extensively in 460 BC. He believed the river sprang from between two massive mountains. Likewise, Emperor Nero ordered his explorers to follow the Nile in search of its source. References to the Blue Nile can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible as the River Gihon, which “flows around the whole land of Cush” (as Ethiopia was known to the Hebrews).
It is the largest fresh water lake in Ethiopia with catchment areas of 15321 km at its outlet and the third largest lake in the Nile Basin. The Lake and its basin comprise a full area of 15096 km2 (drainage pus Lake Tana area) of which the Lake area covers 3,050 km2. It accounts for 50 percent of the total inland area of Ethiopia that feeds the Abay River, which contributes 85% to the total flow of the Blue Nile. The lake is fed by more than 40 rivers and streams, but 93% of the water comes from four major rivers: Gilgal Abbay, Ribb, Gumara and Megech.
Lake Tana has been the political and spiritual centre of the Ethiopian Christian faith for many centuries. It is made up of 37 Islands, around 27 of which have monasteries, churches, and ruined of palaces which are the oldest age and considerable historical important. The impressive monasteries and churches located in spectacular aquatic landscapes are of great significance to the history of African structure. The remarkable elements of several stages of construction are outstanding examples of monastic architecture.
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