In order to understand the geotechnical properties of soils and rocks and the slope stability inrnDessie, field traverses, digging of test pits, drilling of bore hole, vertical electrical soundingrntest, standard penetration test, point load test, Schmidt hammer test and various type ofrnlaboratory tests have been carried out.rnThe purpose of this work is to ensure those geological factors affecting planning, design,rnconstruction of engineering structures related to soils and rocks and to assesses the landslides torngive a mitigation and control methods related to slope gradient classification map,rnGeomorphological map, Engineering geological map, landslide hazard classification map, landrnuse and land cover map have been performed.rnDessie is situated in a graben formed by successive parallel faults that run in the north southrndirection. The geomorphology of Desire is governed by, the geology, the regional tectonicrnactivity, erosion and depositional process.rnThe study area is covered with alternate layers of basalt and quaternary deposits of colluvial,rnalluviall and residual soils.rnAlternate layers of stratoid and degreaded basalt separated by thin palleosoil are typical layersrnalong the escarpments of Tosse and Azewa Gedel. The centeral part of the town isrncharacterised by scattered hills of vesicular basalt.rnThe thickness of colluvial and alluvial deposits vary according to the palemorphology of therngarben. Three borehole were drilled during the field work in selected areas and show that thernthickness of these colluvial - alluvial soils reaches about 40m.rnLandslides, especially induced by gully erosion and rockfalls down the slope is nowadays arncommon phenomena in Desire Town. About 20 landslides including rock fall prone areas havernbeen recognised. Most of them are resulted from the lack of proper surface drainage system onrnthe thick colluvial - alluvial sediment and rockfalls toppleing from the steep cliffs. Thernlandslides are aggravated by natural and man made activities, such as rainfall, change in thernslope gradient, human intervention, gullies and streambed erosion.