Siqurto foot tunnel explained

Siqurto foot tunnel
Other Name:ስቑርቶ
Location:Tigray, Ethiopia
Coordinates:14.1148°N 39.4301°W
Crosses:Gobo Dogu’at ridge
Start:May Zerqu’it
End:Ga’ibien
Operator:Local community
Traffic:Pedestrian
Length:60 metres
Height:2.5 metres
Width:3 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]

with

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 and References

  1. Comment on "Modelling the effect of soil and water conservation practices in Tigray, Ethiopia" [Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 105 (2005) 29-40] . 10.1016/j.agee.2005.11.009 . 2006AgEE..114..407N . Nyssen . Jan . Haregeweyn . Nigussie . Descheemaeker . Katrien . Gebremichael . Desta . Vancampenhout . Karen . Poesen . Jean . Haile . Mitiku . Moeyersons . Jan . Buytaert . Wouter . Naudts . Jozef . Deckers . Jozef . Govers . Gerard . Agriculture . 2006 . 114 . 2 . 407 .
  2. Transhumance in the Tigray highlands (Ethiopia) . Mountain Research and Development . 2009 . 29 . 3 . 255–264 . 10.1659/mrd.00033 . Nyssen . Jan . Descheemaeker . Katrien . Zenebe . Amanuel . Poesen . Jean . Deckers . Jozef . Haile . Mitiku . free . 1854/LU-854326 . free .
  3. 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.