User:Eldahhh/Wonchi (volcano)

Wonchi Crater Lake
Between the towns of Ambo and Woliso, on the mountain range, is the scenic crater lake known as Wonchi Lake. The Tertiary eruption of a once-powerful volcano during the Cenozoic Era left behind the stunning lake. About a thousand years ago, the volcano erupted, leaving an asymmetrical rock crater that is today surrounded by luxuriant greenery. The entire crater is home to a sizable lake with tiny islands, hot mineral springs, waterfalls, stunning valleys, and agricultural land.

The Lake is home to a variety of animal and plant species, some aquatic birds, and it is a beautiful area for several indigenous forest reserves, including Erica Arborea (Hasta) and Egynia Abyssinica (Kosso), a plant used in traditional medicine as a vermifuge.

One of the lake islands is home to an ancient monastery and church known as Wonchi Cherkos, which adds to the area's allure and allurement. The monastery is thought to have been built in the 13th century by St. Tekle Haymanot and rebuilt in the 15th century by Emperor Zara Yaqob.It houses a huge church bell known as the "Gondar bell" in honor of the alleged Gondar-reigning Emperor Fasilidas.

A full day can be spent at Wonchi crater touring the traditional Oromo villages, lake, monastery island, and forests on horseback, by boat, and on foot. Before heading back to Addis Abeba, it is also feasible to explore Lake Dendi, a bell-shaped lake 20 kilometers from Wenchi, or the serene Guder Falls.