Here is another Ethiopian wonder with 37 floating islands. The mysterious Lake Tana with a surface area of 3,673 square Kilometers in the largest inland Lake in Ethiopia.created by volcanic activity about 25 million years ago, lake Tanaranks in size third in Africa next to Lake Victoria and Tanganyika. Lake Tana is the source and from where the famed Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum, and on to the Mediterranean. Most notable aspect of this lake is a great many Ethiopian orthodox churches and monasteries along the shores and on the islands. With its many islands and surrounded by breathtaking mountains, Lake Tana was a natural venue for people searching for deep spirituality. Many of the islands of this beautiful lake hosted, probably since the fourth century, some of the oldest Christian sites in Ethiopia.
There are about 21 ancient churches and monasteries, holding impressive collections of religious objects, including silver crowns, crucifixes and huge bibles in Ge’ez, Ethiopian liturgical language. There are unique icons, mural paintings, manuscripts on parchment and scrolls, representing wonderful examples of Ethiopian civilisation. The Lake Tana area was important in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in view of its role in maintaining the Christian faith against contemporary pressures, and the rise of the Solomonic Dynasty which patronized the building of churches and monasteries.Many of the earliest manuscripts and precious examples of ecclesiastical art as well as royal objects were safely stored in their treasuries. At the same time, new religious arts were developed and displayed in the churches. The oldest of these forty or so churches have their origins in the fourteenth century. They reflect the native building tradition in their round shape, materials and building techniques. Each one consists of three parts: the inner sanctuary, the inner ambulatory and the outer ambulatory. The outside walls of the sanctuary are usually covered with magnificent paintings.
The Zege peninsula, on the southwestern side of the lake, has what is probably the most accessible monastery, Ura KidhaneMihret: it is not highly isolated from the local communities, surrounded by people who are leading a non-monastic life. The peninsula is a two hour boat journey from Bahirdar, but in the dry season is also accessible overland. The monastery of Ura KidhaneMihret consists, like the others, of a wooden church shaped like a traditional African house, with a thatched roof, topped by a large cross, decorated with ostrich feathers (although a corrugated iron roof has been placed to protect its treasures from leaking water). A corridor runs around the outer wall with a number of entrances while in the centre of the church, surrounded by an inner corridor, is the “Holy of Holies”, the inner chamber where the “Tabot”, a replica of the Arc of the Covenant is kept; this may only be entered by priests. The walls are covered in frescoes, there are large candelabras and the air is thick with incense. Around the church, in the surrounding woods, are “tukul”, round huts where the monks live. The treasures and relics are kept in a smaller stone church.
There are frequent festivals on the liturgical calendar.A sail or cruise on Lake Tana is one of the most pleasant excursions for visitors to this region, particularly in the heart of the summer. Along the lakeshore bird life, both local and migratory visitors, make this an ideal place for birdwatchers.Lake Tana is part of a Biosphere reserve that provides important ecosystem services. A hotspot of biodiversity, it is known for its bird population, endemic species of fish and plants. The Wetlands around the lake are also important as they form important breeding grounds for many bird species. Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the area. Common crane, giant pelicans, Northern shoveller, Black-tailed godwit, etc are some of the most sighted birds on the lake.