Debre Birhan is a city located in central Ethiopia within the Semien Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region. It is situated approximately 120 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa along Ethiopian highway 2 at an elevation of 2,840 meters, which makes it the highest town in Africa.
Historically, Debre Birhan served as an early capital of Ethiopia and later functioned as one of the capitals of the kingdom of Shewa, alongside Ankober and Angolalla. In its contemporary role, the city serves as the administrative center of the North Shewa Zone of the Amhara Region.