The largest of these is Abaya and the smallest is Awasa. All these lakes are habitats for a great variety of fish and birds.

Lake Abijata has flamingoes and lakes Ziway and Abaya have hippopotamus and crocodiles. Lake Langano, which is only about 210km away from Addis Abeba, is the most used of all the lakes, and has developed into a weekend resort.

In addition to the lakes in the Rift Valley, there are also lakes in the highlands. The largest lake in the country, lake Tana, is located in the north central highlands and is a flooded river basin dammed by a lava flow which now forms the spectacular Blue Nile Falls.

Other lakes are of volcanic origin, large examples being lakes Ashangi and Haik in Welo Region. Smaller examples are found near Debre Zeit including the classical crater lake in the summit of Mt. Zuquala.

The much visited lake Wonchi fills a multiple crater in a mountainous setting west of Addis Abeba.

(Source: National Atlas of Ethiopia)

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Most parts of Ethiopia are drained by major rivers flowing eventually into the ocean (exoreic drainage). Therefore the western parts of the country are drained by major rivers like the Abay, Baro and Tekeze; and also the south-eastern region is drained by the Wabi Shebele and the Genale.

There are also areas without organized surface drainage (areic). Such areas are found in the eastern coastal parts of the Harerge. They are characterized by semi-arid and arid climatic conditions and the precipitation is not sufficient to given rise to an integrated system of drainage.

Endoreic drainage is characteristic of the rift valley region. Rivers draining these areas have no outlet to the sea. The major river in this area of internal drainage is the Awash, and there are also several smaller streams discharging into the lakes.

Ethiopia forms a water divide between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean and so it is called the “water tower of North East Africa.” The direction of flow of major rivers is guided by the general relief slope of the land.

The north-western highlands and their associated lowlands are generally inclined westward and hence drain towards the Mediterranean. The south-eastern highlands and their linked lowlands drain towards the Indian Ocean. The Ethiopian rift valley forms a series of closed drainage basins.

Many Ethiopian rivers have cut deep gorges reaching to a depth of 1,000 metres or more and having a width of ten to fifteen kilometres. They are frequently interrupted by falls and rapids and as a result are not navigable. Only the lower Baro River in the south-west is navigable and then only during the rainy season.

Marked seasonal variation of rainfall also affects river flow. During the rains, the run-off is rapid and river flow is strong, in strong contrast to the limited flow in the dry season.

Nevertheless, many rivers have considerable potential for the generation of hydroelectricity which, in some cases, can be linked to the development of irrigation schemes.

Keywords: Ethiopia, river, Abay, Baro and Tekeze, Wabi Shebele, Genale, Awash,

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Drainage area A
This is an area which comprises four important river basins, the Mereb, Tekeze, Abay and Baro. Following the general slope of the land westward, all except the Mereb drain to the Nile and thus to the Mediterranean.

The best known Ethiopian river, the Abay (the Blue Nile) together with the Tekeze and Baro is also part of the Nile system. Among the river basins under drainage are A, the Abay has the largest catchment area and the Mereb the smallest.

Drainage area B
This area comprises the eastern and south eastern part of the country, lying east of the rift valley.

The two major river basins in these area the Genale and the Wabi Shebele. The Genale receives a considerable amount of water from its major tributaries, the Dawa and Weyb, and flows through the dry areas of Ethiopia and Somalia to the Indian Ocean.

The Wabi Shebele flows through Ethiopia and Somalia for about 2,000 km, but fails to reach the Indian Ocean.

Drainage area C
This is an area of endoreic drainage. Except for the Gibe, all are contained in the Ethiopian Rift Valley.

The Gibe River (Omo) rises in the central south-western plateaus and flows southward into Lake Rudolf.

The Awash river flows north-east through the Afar Plains within the rift valley towards the Gulf of Tajura but, having lost much water through evaporation and seepage, it finishes in Lake Abe near the Ethio-Djibouti border. The series of small lakes, of which Lake Abe is one, has no outlet.

Considering the area, and length of rivers within the country and outside the country, Wabi Shebele is the largest with a catchment area of 205,407km2 and a length of 1,340km inside Ethiopia, with the further stretch of 660km in Somalia.

Although Ethiopia has been called the water tower of Africa, the benefit derived from the major rivers is at present very small compared to a large potential.

Most of the rivers are still limited to the basic uses of drinking and washing. Nevertheless, the expansion of some cities and towns as well as the need for modern irrigation schemes is calling for more effective utilization.

Of the major rivers, the Awash is the one which is most efficiently utilized. The Awash has three hydro-electric power plants and two modern irrigation systems supporting sugar and cotton plantations. The future prospects are also bright.

Keywords: Mereb, Tekeze, Abay, Baro, Barka, Genale, Wabi Shebele, Dawa, Weyb, Awash river, Gibe River, Omo River,

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