# Gondar

> city, former capital of Ethiopia

**Wikidata**: [Q218861](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218861)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gondar

## Summary
Gondar is a big city in Ethiopia that was founded in 1635 and formerly served as the capital of the Ethiopian Empire. Located in the Semien Gondar Zone at an elevation of 2,133 meters, it had a population of 323,900 as of 2015.

## Key Facts
- **Country:** Ethiopia
- **Inception:** 1635
- **Instance of:** City, big city
- **Coordinates:** 12.6°N, 37.466666666667°E
- **Area:** 209,270,000 square meters
- **Elevation:** 2,133 meters above sea level
- **Population:** 323,900 (2015), 207,044 (2007), 112,249 (1994), 80,886 (1984)
- **Timezone:** UTC+03:00
- **Postal Code:** 6200
- **UN/LOCODE:** ETGDQ
- **Local Dialing Code:** 058 111
- **Native Label:** ጎንደር
- **Capital Of:** Ethiopian Empire, Amhara Governorate
- **Located In:** Gondar, Semien Gondar Zone
- **Sister Cities:** Rishon LeZion (since 2008), Corvallis (since 2005), Montgomery County (since 2012)

## FAQs
**Where is Gondar located?**
Gondar is located in the Semien Gondar Zone of Ethiopia at coordinates 12.6°N, 37.466666666667°E.

**What was Gondar's historical role?**
Gondar was founded in 1635 and served as the capital of the Ethiopian Empire.

**How has Gondar's population changed?**
The city's population has grown from 80,886 in 1984 to 323,900 in 2015.

**Which cities are twinned with Gondar?**
Gondar has sister city relationships with Rishon LeZion (Israel), Corvallis (USA), and Montgomery County (USA).

## Why It Matters
Gondar holds substantial historical importance as the former capital of the Ethiopian Empire, a role it held after its inception in the 17th century. As a major urban center in the Amhara region, it serves as a significant administrative and cultural hub within Ethiopia. Its recognition as a big city, coupled with its extensive international connections through sister city agreements and a broad digital presence, underscores its ongoing relevance in both historical and modern contexts.

## Notable For
- Serving as the former capital of the Ethiopian Empire.
- Being a major city with a population exceeding 300,000.
- High elevation at 2,133 meters above sea level.
- Extensive international ties with three sister cities.
- Widespread global documentation, covered in major encyclopedias like Britannica, Treccani, and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Gondar is situated in the Semien Gondar Zone of Ethiopia. Its precise coordinates are latitude 12.6 and longitude 37.466666666667. The city covers a total area of 209,270,000 square meters and sits at an elevation of 2,133 meters above sea level. It operates within the UTC+03:00 timezone. Administratively, it has served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the Amhara Governorate.

### Demographics
The city has experienced consistent population growth over several decades. Recorded figures include 80,886 residents in 1984, increasing to 112,249 by 1994. The population nearly doubled to 207,044 by 2007 and reached 323,900 by 2015.

### Governance
The city's current head of government, identified as Q134821705, assumed office on February 23, 2021. Gondar maintains an official website at `https://www.gondar.gov.et/` and a tourism-focused site at `https://visitethiopia.et/space/gondar-1`.

### International Relations
Gondar maintains sister city relationships with three international municipalities:
- **Rishon LeZion:** Established on March 13, 2008.
- **Corvallis:** Established in April 2005.
- **Montgomery County:** Established on September 27, 2012.

### Digital and Media Presence
The city maintains an active online presence across various platforms. Its official Twitter handle is `gondarcitycommu`, and its Facebook page ID is `100070533399284`. The official YouTube channel, "Gondar city communication" (ID: `UCagBosc3IZRcrfvvJcrzfrQ`), started on November 11, 2016. Additional digital identifiers include a TripAdvisor ID of `317059`, a Quora topic named "Gonder," and a Google Play Store ID of "Gondar."

### Identification and Classifications
Gondar is cataloged under numerous international identification systems. Its UN/LOCODE is `ETGDQ`, and it has GeoNames ID `336014`. It is listed in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names as `1089826` and has an OpenStreetMap node ID of `71556493`. The city is further classified with a BBC Things ID, a MusicBrainz area ID (`e1c76c7c-0860-44b7-afd0-ef7d1157bbd2`), and a Who's on First ID (`890442043`).

### Historical and Academic References
The city is documented in a wide array of historical and academic sources. It is described by the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), and The Nuttall Encyclopædia. Other references include the Encyclopædia Britannica (ID: `place/Gonder`), Treccani's Dizionario di Storia, and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. Its Beta Maṣāḥǝft ID is `LOC3577Gondar`.

### Visual Documentation
Visual representations of Gondar are available through several media links. A primary image is hosted on Wikimedia Commons, and a specific page banner is available at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ET_Gondar_asv2018-02_img10a_BANNER.jpg`. A panoramic view can be found at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ET_Gondar_asv2018-02_img51_Goha_Hotel_hill_(cropped).jpg`.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.gondar.gov.et/en/mayor)
2. [Source](https://www.masham.org.il/uploads/n/1610438850.3560.pdf)
3. [Source](https://www.pressrelease.com/news/beyond-gap-year-program-in-ethiopia-assists-ethiopian-jewish-community-66713)
4. [Source](http://en.sistercity.info/sister-cities/Gondar.html)
5. [Source](https://sistercities.corvallis.or.us/gondar/)
6. [Source](http://montgomerysistercities.org/gondar/)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Czech National Authority Database
10. MusicBrainz
11. [Source](http://www.citypopulation.de/Ethiopia.html)
12. GeoNames
13. BBC Things
14. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/et.htm)
15. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
16. Enciclopedia Treccani
17. Dizionario di Storia
18. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
19. YouTube API