Siqurto foot tunnel

Foot tunnel that crosses beneath the Imba Tsiyon Ridge

14°06′53″N 39°25′48″E / 14.114837°N 39.430093°E / 14.114837; 39.430093CrossesGobo Dogu’at ridgeStartMay Zerqu’itEndGa’ibienOperationOperatorLocal communityTrafficPedestrianTechnicalLength60 metresTunnel clearance2.5 metresWidth3 metres

The Siqurto foot tunnel crosses beneath the Imba Tsiyon ridge, which forms the water divide between the Giba and Weri'i basins. The ridge is part of the Mugulat Mountains, Tigray, Ethiopia,[1]

Design and construction

The tunnel was hewn in the Adigrat Sandstone rock in the same period when rock churches were built in Tigray.[2] During the period of Italian occupation of Ethiopia, local people closed and hid the tunnel, forcing Italian troops and administrators to travel longer distances.[3]

Location

The tunnel links[3]

  • Nebelet and May Zerqu’it at the west

with

  • Ga’ibien and Adigrat at the east.

The use of the tunnel allows decreasing the travel distance on foot between Nebelet and Adigrat by 8 kilometres.[3]

Usage

The tunnel is used daily by local farmers, with their donkeys, mules and oxen.[2]

Upgrade works

The bottom was strengthened with steps and pavement.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ Comment on “Modelling the effect of soil and water conservation practices in Tigray, Ethiopia” Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 105 (2005) 29–40
  2. ^ a b c Nyssen, Jan; Descheemaeker, Katrien; Zenebe, Amanuel; Poesen, Jean; Deckers, Jozef; Haile, Mitiku (2009). "Transhumance in the Tigray highlands (Ethiopia)". Mountain Research and Development. 29 (3): 255–264. doi:10.1659/mrd.00033. hdl:1854/LU-854326.
  3. ^ a b c Nyssen, J., Tesfaalem Ghebreyohannes, Hailemariam Meaza, Dondeyne, S., 2020. Exploration of a medieval African map (Aksum, Ethiopia) – How do historical maps fit with topography? In: De Ryck, M., Nyssen, J., Van Acker, K., Van Roy, W., Liber Amicorum: Philippe De Maeyer In Kaart. Wachtebeke (Belgium): University Press: 165-178.