Awasa

Hawassa (also spelled Awassa or Awasa) is a prominent city in Ethiopia, situated on the shores of Lake Hawassa within the Great Rift Valley. It is located approximately 273 km south of Addis Ababa and serves as the capital of the Sidama Region. The city lies on the Trans-African Highway 4 Cairo-Cape Town and has an elevation of 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) above sea level. Its name originates from a Sidama word meaning "wide body of water". Historically known as Adare, Hawassa was founded in 1958 by Emperor Haile Selassie, who was interested in establishing a new town in the area due to its strategic location on the Addis Ababa–Moyale highway, its flat topography suitable for city building, and the nearby tourist attractions of Lake Hawassa and Dume hill (now Tabor).The city is a significant educational and economic hub, home to Hawassa University, Awasa Adventist College, and a major market. The Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP), established in 2016, is an eco-industrial park focusing on apparel and fabric production, featuring a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) facility. Fishing is a major local industry, benefiting from Lake Hawassa. Important local attractions include the St. Gabriel Church and the Awassa Kenema Stadium. The city experiences a tropical savanna climate, with a lengthy wet season from March to October and a short dry season from November to February.Lake Hawassa, an endorheic basin, is a central feature of the city, measuring 16 km long and 9 km wide with a surface area of 129 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 10 meters. Despite lacking an outflow, it is essentially a freshwater lake, suggesting a subterranean outlet. The lake is a popular spot for boat rides, offering opportunities to spot hippos, various bird species like malachite kingfishers, pelicans, and herons, as well as colobus and vervet monkeys and baboons along its shores. The local fish market on the lake's shores is also a notable attraction. Hawassa is a popular weekend destination for residents of Addis Ababa, known for its lakeside setting and vibrant atmosphere.