# Mika'el Abiy

Mika’el Abiy is a tabia or municipality in the Dogu’a Tembien district of the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The tabia centre is in Megesta village, located approximately 7 km to the southeast of the woreda (town) Hagere Selam.

## Geography

The tabia stretches down south of the main road towards Rubaksa, which is a wider area with several springs and traditional irrigation. The highest peak is Gumawta (2815 m a.s.l.) on the Tsatsen plateau and the lowest place Rubaksa (1920 m a.s.l.).

### Geology and soils
#### Geological formations

From the higher to the lower locations, the following geological formations are present:
* Upper basalt
* Interbedded lacustrine deposits
* Lower basalt
* Amba Aradam Formation
* Antalo Limestone
* Quaternary alluvium and freshwater tufa

#### Soilscape

The main geomorphic units, with corresponding soil types are:
* Hagere Selam Highlands, along the basalt and sandstone ridge
** Associated soil types
*** shallow soils with high stone contents (Skeletic Cambisol, Leptic Cambisol, Skeletic Regosol)
*** moderately deep dark stony clays with good natural fertility (Vertic Cambisol)
*** deep, dark cracking clays, temporarily waterlogged during the wet season (Pellic Vertisol)
** Inclusions
*** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic Leptosol)
*** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils on limestone (Calcaric Leptosol)
*** Deep dark cracking clays with very good natural fertility, waterlogged during the wet season (Chromic Vertisol, Pellic Vertisol)
*** Shallow stony dark loams on calcaric material (Calcaric Regosol, Calcaric Cambisol)
*** Brown loamy soils on basalt with good natural fertility (Luvisol)
* Gently rolling Antalo Limestone plateau, holding cliffs and valley bottoms on limestone
** Associated soil types
*** shallow stony soils with a dark surface horizon overlying calcaric material (Calcaric Leptosol)
*** moderately deep dark stony clays with good natural fertility (Vertic Cambisol)
*** deep, dark cracking clays on calcaric material (Calcaric Vertisol, Calcic Vertisol)
** Inclusions
*** Rock outcrops and very shallow soils (Lithic Leptosol)
*** Shallow very stony loamy soil on limestone (Skeletic Calcaric Cambisol)
*** Deep dark cracking clays with very good natural fertility, waterlogged during the wet season (Chromic Vertisol, Pellic Vertisol)
*** Brown to dark sands and silt loams on alluvium (Vertic Fluvisol, Eutric Fluvisol, Haplic Fluvisol) and colluvium (Calcaric Regosol)

### Springs

As there are no permanent rivers, the presence of springs is of utmost importance for the local people. The following are the main springs in the tabia:
* May Zahla in Dingilet
* May Ayni in Rubaksa

### Livelihood

The population lives essentially from crop farming, supplemented with off-season work in nearby towns. The land is dominated by farmlands which are clearly demarcated and are cropped every year. Hence the agricultural system is a permanent upland farming system, and the population are not nomads.

### Population

The tabia centre Megesta holds a few administrative offices and some small shops. The villages close to Hagere Selam (Dingilet and Harena) have established a new settlement, at the margin of Hagere Selam, where the inhabitants benefit from the proximity of the town. The main other populated places in the tabia are:
| Awulo Rubaksa T’eshi Addi Kwanti | Gabla Imni Haddush Addi Dingilet Harena |

### Religion and churches

Most inhabitants are Orthodox Christians.

### Legends and myths

In the northern part of Harena, called Argak'a, there is a large rock of more than 50 m$^2$ - a legend says that a certain Ilias transported it up to there.

## Roads and communication

The main road Mekelle – Hagere Selam – Abiy Addi runs at the north and west of the tabia.

## Schools

Almost all children of the tabia attend school and in some schools there is lack of classrooms, due to the large intake in primary schools.

## Gallery

* A farmer ploughing at Haddush Addi.
* View towards Dingilet from Mt Gumawta.
* Waterfall in Dingilet.