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Debre Birhan
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Debre Berhan, which in Amharic means "mountain of light," is sited at an elevation of 2840 meters in the Highlands. Based on 2005 figures from the Central Statistical Agency Debre Birhan has an estimated total population of 67,243. The town is part of the Amhara region and located 120km northeast of Addis Ababa.
Debre Birhan was founded in 1456 by Emperor Zara Yaqob, who felt inspired to build a church there after seeing a bright nocturnal light. It later served as one of the capitals of the kingdom of Shewa, along with Ankober and Angolalla.
