Semera

For the former Sarawak, Malaysia State Legislative Assembly constituency existed between 1969 and 1996, see Semera (state constituency). For the city in Russia, see Samara. For the city in Iraq, see Samarra. For the city in Western Sahara, see Smara.
Semera
Semera
Capital city
Semera is located in Ethiopia
Semera
Semera
Location within Ethiopia
Semera is located in Horn of Africa
Semera
Semera
Location within the Horn of Africa
Semera is located in Africa
Semera
Semera
Location within Africa
Coordinates: 11°47′32″N 41°0′31″E / 11.79222°N 41.00861°E / 11.79222; 41.00861
Country Ethiopia
RegionAfar Region Afar
ZoneAdministrative Zone 1
Government
 • TypeCity administration
 • MayorAbdu Musa
Elevation
432 m (1,416 ft)
Population
 (2010)
 • Capital city10.000
 • Urban
50,000
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
ClimateBWh
Semera

Semera (Afar: Samara; Amharic: ሰመራ) is the capital of Afar Region, Ethiopia. It is a town on the Awash–Assab highway in north-east Ethiopia, having been planned and built to replace Asaita. Located in Administrative Zone 1, Semera has a latitude and longitude of 11°47′32″N 41°0′31″E / 11.79222°N 41.00861°E / 11.79222; 41.00861. One of the completed buildings is Semera University, which began holding classes in 2007.[1]

The 2006 Lonely Planet guide to Ethiopia had this description of Semera:

With its quirky mix of barracks, modern apartment blocks, and soulless administrative buildings, it looks like a microscopic version of Brasilia emerging incongruously in the middle of the desert – except that it's a completely botched attempt at creating a new town.[2]

The 2009 Lonely Planet guide omitted the final phrase following the dash.[3] The 2002 edition of Ethiopia: the Bradt travel guide described Semera as consisting of "one active filling station (complete with fridge) and a cluster of modern offices and tall apartment blocks in various states of construction – all in mad isolation from any existing settlement!"[4]

The area is served by Semera Airport, which has scheduled service to Addis Ababa.

  1. ^ "Health coverage reaches 40 percent in Afar State" Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine (Walta Information Center)
  2. ^ Matt Philips. Ethiopia and Eritrea, third edition (n.p.: Lonely Planet, 2006), p. 221
  3. ^ Jean-Bernard Carillet, Stuart Butler, David Lukas, Dean Starnes.Ethiopia & Eritrea, 4th edition (Lonely Planet, 2009), p. 213.
  4. ^ Philip Briggs (2002) Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 3rd edition. Chalfont St Peters: Bradt. p. 345