Adowa (also spelled Aduwa, Adwa or Adua) is a highland town in Ethiopia. Adowa is now in the Tigray region and was in earlier times the capital of ancient Ethiopia. Tigray is the northern-most of the nine ethnic regions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. ...

Located in northern Ethiopia, south of Asmara, Eritrea and between Axum and Adigrat, Adowa is a center for agricultural markets. As of 1994, the town had a population of 24,519. Asmara, estimated population 400,000 (1996), is the capital of Eritrea. ... Axum, also Aksum, is a city in northern Ethiopia, located at the base of the Adoua mountains. ...

The town is known for being the site of the Battle of Adowa in 1896, the final battle of the First Italo-Abyssinian War, where Shewa ruler Menelik II fought for Ethiopia's independence against Italy. Menelik led the Ethiopian Army to a decisive victory against the Italians. This event was the first time a European force lost a battle on the continent of Africa. The victory at Adwa ensured an independent Ethiopia untill the Italians invaded again on the eve of World War Two Battle of Adowa Conflict First Italo-Abyssinian War Date March 1, 1896 Place Adowa, Ethiopia Result Ethiopian victory; end of First Italo-Abyssinian war The Battle of Adowa (also known as Adwa or sometimes by the Italian name Adua) was fought on March 1, 1896 between Ethiopia and Italy near... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The First Italo-Abyssinian War was one of the very few instances of successful armed African resistance to European colonialism in the 19th century. ... Menelik II (August 17, 1844 - December 12, 1913), Conquering Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings of Ethiopia was negus negust (emperor) of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air. ...