Amhara Region

Amhara (Amharic: አማራ^?) is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar.

Located here is Ethiopia's largest inland body of water, Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile river. The region also has the Semien Mountains National Park, which includes the highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dashan.

Amhara is bordered by the nation of Sudan to the west, and the Ethiopian regions of Tigray to the north, Afar to the east, Benishangul-Gumuz to the west and southwest, and Oromia to the south.

During Ethiopia's imperial era, Amhara included several provinces (such as Dembiya, Gojjam, Begemder, Angot, Wollo, Shewa and Lasta), most of which were ruled by native Ras or Negus. The Amhara Region then incorporated most of the former provinces of Begemder, Dembiya, Angot, bete Amhara (Wollo), Gojjam, and Shewa. When Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took over Ethiopia, most of the Amhara Region land, especially in Gonder, was redesignated as part of Tigray Region.