Arba Minch

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Coordinates: 6°2′N 37°33′E / 6.033, 37.55
Arba Minch Minghi Gantar
Arba Minch Location within Ethiopia
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples
Zone	Semien (North) Omo
Elevation	1,285 m (4,216 ft)
Population (2005)
- Total	72,507
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Arba Minch (Amharic, "forty springs") is a city in southern Ethiopia; less common names for this city include Gantar and Minghi. Located in the Semien Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region about 500km south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285m above sea level.

Arba Minch received its name for the abundant local springs which produce a groundwater forest. Located at the base of the western side of the Great Rift Valley, Arba Minch consists of the uptown administrative centre of Shecha and 4 km away the downtown commercial and residential areas of Sikela, which are connected by a paved road. On the eastern side of Sikela is the gate to Nechisar National Park, which covers the isthimus between Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the south. Buses and taxis connect the uptown and downtown parts; both parts have schools.

Arba Minch is known for fruit, including mango, banana, orange, apple, guava and pineapple. It is also known for its fish farms. It is the home of Arba Minch University. The town also is served by an airport,.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Arba Minch has an estimated total population of 72,507, of whom 36,296 were males and were 36,211 females.^[1] According to the 1994 census, it had a population of 40,020. It is the only incorporated community in the Arba Minch Zuria woreda.

This city succeeded Chencha as the provincial capital of Gamu-Gofa, and held this honor until the reorganisation of provinces in 1995. It retains some government importance as the administrative center for its Zone.

Arba Minch is host to the annual 'Festival of 1000 Stars' (shi kokeboch), a concert organized by British charitable organisation One Heart and Gughe Indigenous Art & Music Association, dedicated to helping the region's indigenous people support themselves through music.^[2] The next occurrence is due in December 2008.