Wolayita Zone
Wolayita or Wolaita is an administrative zone in Ethiopia. Wolayita is bordered on the south by Gamo Zone, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from Dawro, on the northwest by Kembata Zone and Tembaro Special Woreda, on the north by Hadiya, on the northeast by the Oromia Region, on the east by the Bilate River which separates it from Sidama Region, and on the south east by the Lake Abaya which separates it from Oromia Region. The administrative centre of Wolayita is Sodo. Other major towns are Areka, Boditi, Tebela, Bale Hawassa, Gesuba, Gununo, Bedessa and Dimtu.
Wolayita Zone
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From left: Mount Damota, Wolayita war dance, Leke playing Men | |
| Nickname: The Land of More Than 50 Kings | |
Wolaita Zone location in Ethiopia | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Region | South Ethiopia Regional State |
| Kingdom of Damot | 1100 |
| Kingdom of Wolaita | 1251 |
| Incorporated to Ethiopian Empire | 1894 |
| Separated from North Omo Zone | 2000 |
| Founded by | Welayta people |
| Capital | Sodo |
| Government | |
| • Chief administrator | Samuel Fola (Prosperity Party) |
| • Deputy | Admasu Aweke |
| Area | |
| • Zone | 451,170.7 ha (1,114,867.1 acres) |
| • Cultivated | 261,000 ha (645,000 acres) |
| • Grazing land | 5,318 ha (13,141 acres) |
| Highest elevation | 2,750 m (9,020 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Zone | 6,142,063 |
| • Density | 520.8/km2 (1,349/sq mi) |
| • Urban -as of 2007 | 366,567 |
| • Urban density | 385/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| • Male | 3,027,013 |
| • Female | 3,115,050 |
| Demonym | Wolaita (96.31%) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Website | www |
Wolayita has 358 kilometres (222 mi) of all-weather roads and 425 kilometres (264 mi) of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 187 kilometres per 1000 square kilometres. Its highest point is Mount Damota (2738 meters).