Part of the Debub Gondar Zone, Este was bordered on the south by the Abay River which separated it from the Misraq Gojjam Zone, on the west by Dera, on the northwest by Fogera, on the north by Farta, on the northeast by Lay Gayint, and on the east by Simada; part of this woreda's boundary with Simada was defined by the Wanka, a tributary of the Abay.
Towns in Este included Jara Gedo and Mekane Yesus, as well as the historic settlement of Mahdere Maryam.
The woreda went to spend for about 20 years in darkness, after losing a generator that lit up about 10,000 households.
On 15 October 2002, police fired into the air to disperse a crowd of 4,000 farmers gathered at a meeting of the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party in the village of Dankura Maryam, although party officials maintained they had a valid permit for their meeting.
The largest ethnic group reported in Este was the Amhara (99.98%), and Amharic was spoken as a first language by 99.98%.