Hawassa

Hawassa (also spelled Awassa or Awasa) is a lakeside city in Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley, roughly 273 km south of Addis Ababa. It sits on the shore of Lake Hawassa and serves as a gateway to the southern highlands, combining a relaxed setting with an important role as a regional administrative and commercial centre.

The city was founded in the late 1950s, when Emperor Haile Selassie built a palace beside the lake, and it became the capital of the former Sidamo Province in 1968. After 1995 it served as the capital of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, and since 2020 it has also been the capital of the newly created Sidama Region. Local landmarks such as the Sidama Monument and St. Gabriel Church reflect the city's evolving identity.

Lake Hawassa is the centre of much of local life, with boat trips offering views of hippos and fish eagles, and a lively fish market where wooden boats unload the morning catch. Tabor Hill gives panoramic views over the city and lake, while Hawassa University's campus, the Sidama Monument and Awassa Kenema Stadium add cultural and civic landmarks.

Hawassa is also a growing industrial centre. The Hawassa Industrial Park, opened in 2016, is an eco-friendly textile and garment manufacturing hub that has employed tens of thousands of workers and positioned the city as a key export and logistics point for Ethiopia.

For travellers, Hawassa is reachable through Hawassa Airport (AWA) and by road from Addis Ababa on the Trans-African Highway 4 corridor. Lakeside hotels, cafés and restaurants, plus easy access to Rift Valley lakes and coffee-growing areas, make it a practical stop for both leisure visitors and business travellers.