Qwiha

Qwiha (also Kuha or Kwiha) is a town located in northern Ethiopia. The name comes from the local word for willows, which are abundant in the area. Located in the Debub Misraqawi (south-eastern) Zone of the Tigray Region, it lies 9 kilometers east of Mek'ele straddling Ethiopian Highway 1 which leads to Addis Ababa. It has a latitude and longitude of 13°28′37″N 39°32′42″E / 13.47694°N 39.54500°E / 13.47694; 39.54500Coordinates: 13°28′37″N 39°32′42″E / 13.47694°N 39.54500°E / 13.47694; 39.54500 with an elevation of 2247 meters above sea level.

Overview

Qwiha is the administrative center of the Enderta woreda. It had telephone service at least as early as 1956, when it is reported that the only hotel in town had the only telephone.

The airport of Mekelle, Alula Aba Nega Airport is located within the administrative boundaries of Qwiha. In Qwiha, the main paved road from Addis Ababa takes a sharp turn left to Mek'ele. The old road to Asmara, still bearing the "National road n°1" label, keeps heading north to the village of Maymagden and Wukro but is not asphalted. A local road starts in Qwiha linking the eastern tabias of Arato and Derge Agen to the woreda center. Seven kilometers south of Qwiha a regional road heading to Shiket and the Afar Region diverts from the national highway.