What is "alefa"

Alefa is one of the woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Alefa is bordered on the southwest by the Agew Awi Zone, on the west by Qwara, on the north by Takusa, on the east by Lake Tana and on the southeast by the Mirab Gojjam Zone. The administrative center of Alefa is Shawra; other towns include Dengel Ber, Esey Dibir and Gomenge. Rivers include the Dinder. Jawi and Takusa woredas were separated from Alefa.

Alefa is named after the historic region to the southwest of Lake Tana, which was the target of a punitive expedition led by Emperor Susenyos in 1608.