Addis Ababa University

College of Social Sciences

Department of Geography and Environmental
Studies

Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn

GeES 1011

By: Goitom Abraha (PhD)

 CHAPTER FOUR
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE OF ETHIOPIA
AND THE HORN
• At the end of this chapter you will be able to:
• Describe the major drainage systems in Ethiopia and the
Horn.
• Examine the surface and ground water resource potentials of
Ethiopia.
• Understand economic potentials of the water sector in
Ethiopia.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
4.1. Introduction
• About 71% of the Earth’s total surface is covered by water .
• Surface and ground waters are easily available fresh waters;
though unevenly distributed.
• The diverse topographical setup, and relatively higher rainfall
made the country to have larger volume of ground and surface
water.
• Around 0.7 % of the total land mass of Ethiopia is covered by
water bodies.
• The country’s surface water potential is estimated to be 124.4
billion cubic meters (BCM).
• Consequently, many call Ethiopia, the water tower of “Eastern
Africa”.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
• Drainage refers to flow of water through well-defined channel.
• A drainage system is made up of a principal river and its
tributaries; or branched network of stream channels together
with the adjacent land slopes they drain.
• A river system begins at a place called the source or headwater
and ends at a point called mouth.
• The drainage pattern of an area is the outcome of the geological
processes, nature and structure of rocks, topography, amount
and the periodicity of the flow.
• A drainage basin is an area from which a river and its tributaries
collect both the surface runoff and subsurface flow.
• It is bounded by and separated from other river basins by a
topographic divide.
Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
•The general patterns of major river basins in Ethiopia are
determined by topographical structures as:
• The topography of the outward sloping of the Western and South
eastern plateaus.
• The structural formation of the Rift Valley with its in-ward-sloping
escarpments resulting mainly in inland drainage .
• Faults and joints that structurally influence part of the courses of
many rivers.
The Major Drainage Systems
• Western Drainage System
• Southeastern Drainage System
• and Rift Valley Drainage System
Drainage Basins of Ethiopia
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
• A. The Western Drainage Systems
• The Western Drainage Systems are the largest of all drainage
systems draining 40 percent of the total area of the country and 60
percent of the annual water flow.
• The catchment area coextends with the westward sloping part of
the western highlands and lowlands.
• It comprises four major river basins: Tekeze, Abay, Baro-Akobo,
Ghibe (Omo).
• Except Omo, Abay, Tekeze and Baro flow westward ultimately
joining the Nile which finally ends at Mediterranean Sea.
• Abay is the largest river both in volumetric discharge (65%) and
coverage (199,812 km2 )in the western drainage systems.
• It darains parts of Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz .
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
• Abay rises from Lake Tana that is fed by 60 streams, gilgel Abay
being the largest (some sources indicate Sekela in Choke
mountain) flows about 1,450 kilometres and joins the White Nile
in Khartoum, Sudan to form the Nile River.
• Tekeze and its tributaries, carrying 12 percent of the annual water
flow of the region (8.2 BMC); drains 82,350 Km2
• Erosion in the basin resulted in large tablelands, plateau blocks
and isolated mountain groups.
• The basin has two main tributaries (Angereb and Goang) which
rise in the central highlands of Ethiopia.
• Tekeze River is termed Atbara in Sudan, which is a tributary of the
Nile.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
• Baro-Akobo and Ghibe / Omo rivers drain the wettest highlands
in the south and southwestern Ethiopia.
• They carry 17 percent and 6 percent of the annual water flow
respectively.
• In the lower course, the Baro River flows across an extensive
marshy land.
• Baro Akobo river drains parts of the Benishangul-Gumuz,
Gambella, Oromia, and SNNPR.
• Baro/ Akobo forms the Sobat River in South Sudan.
• The Ghibe / Omo River finally empties in to the Chew-Bahir at
the mouth of Lake Turkana.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
• B. The South-eastern Drainage Systems
• Comprises the entire physiographic region of southeastern part of
Ethiopia that inclines southeast wards across large water deficient
plains.
• The basin is drained by Wabishebelle and Ghenale rivers and their
tributaries that cross the border into Somalia, carrying 25 percent of
the annual water flow of Ethiopia.
• Ghenale river basin has an area of 171,042 km2, covering parts of
Oromia, SNNPR, and Somali regions.
• Ghenale has fewer tributaries but carries more water than
Wabishebelle and reaches the Indian Ocean( 5.8 BMC)
• In Somalia, River Ghenale is named the Juba River.
 The South-eastern Drainage Systems....Cont’d
• Wabishebelle with a total catchment area of 202,697 km2, is
the largest river in terms catchment area.
• It drains parts of Oromia, Harari and the Somali regions.
• It is the longest river in Ethiopia.
• Wabishebelle is fed mainly by left bank tributaries , most of
which are intermittent.
• It fails to reach the Indian Ocean as its water disappears in the
sands, just near the Juba River.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia…Cont’d
• C. The Rift Valley Drainage System
• Characterized by small amount of rainfall, high evaporation and small
catchment area.
• The catchment area of the Rift Valley drainage system is composed of
the slopes of the escarpment and the Rift Valley floor.
• There is no one general flow direction, as the streams flow in all
directions.
• Awash is the only major river in the basin with a catchment area of
114,123 km2 and an average annual discharge of 4.9 BMC.
• The Awash River originates from Shewan plateau, and flows 1250
kms in a northeast direction and ends in Lake Abe on the Ethio-
Djibouti border..
• It covers parts of the Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa, and
Addis Ababa City Administration.
• Awash is the most utilized river in the country.
 The Rift Valley Drainage System....Cont’d
• The Afar drainage sub-basin has practically no stream flow.
• It is an area of little rain, very high temperature and evaporation.
• Lake Afrera and Asale , whose formation is related to tectonic
activities, are the only main surface waters.
• The Southern part of the Rift Valley sub-basin is characterized by
numerous lakes and small streams.
• It is also described as lakes region; where the lakes occupy fault
depression.
• There are small streams that drain down from the nearby
mountain slopes which supply water to the lakes. For example,
Meki and Katar Rivers flow into Ziway; Bilate into Abaya; and
Segen into Chew Bahir.
• Some of these lakes are interconnected. Lakes Ziway and Langano
drain into Lake Abijiata through the small streams of Bulbula and
Horocolo respectively.
The Rift Valley Drainage System....Cont’d
 The Ethiopian Rivers
• Unlike many other African countries, Ethiopia is endowed
with many rivers.
• Majority of the rivers originate from highland areas and cross
the Ethiopian boundary.
• Ethiopian rivers form 12 major watersheds separating the
Mediterranean Sea from the Indian Ocean drainage systems.
The Ethiopian Rivers and Lakes
 The Ethiopian Rivers ….Cont’d
• Data on major Ethiopian rivers
No. River Catchment Annual Terminus Major tributaries
Area(km2) Volume Or Mouth
BMC
1 Abay 199,812 54.5 Mediterranean Dabus, Dedessa, Fincha,
Guder, Muger, Jema,
Beshilo
2 Wabishebelle 202,697 3.4 Coast of Indian Ramis Erer, Daketa Fafan
Ocean
3 Genale Dawa 171,042 6 Indian-Ocean Dawa, Weyb, Welmel,
Mena
4 Awash 114,123 4.9 Inland (within Akaki, Kesem, Borkena,
Ethiopia) Mile
5 Tekeze 87,733 8.2 Mediterranean Goang, Angereb
6 Gibe (Omo) 79,000 16.6 Lake Turkana Gojeb
7 Baro Akobo 75,912 23.23 Mediterranean Akobo
 General Characteristics of Ethiopian Rivers
• Owing to the highland nature of the Ethiopian landmass, surface
ruggedness, the outward inclination of the highlands, and the
climatic conditions, Ethiopian rivers have the following
characteristics:
• Originate from the highlands of more than 1500 meters above
sea level, thereby having steep profiles.
• Characterized by extreme seasonal fluctuation due to seasonality
of rainfall.
• Due to surface ruggedness they have rapids and waterfalls along
their course.
• They have cuts, steep-sided river valleys and deep gorges along
their courses.
• Majority of Ethiopian rivers are trans-boundary.
• Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both international and
domestic administrative units.
 The Ethiopian Lakes
• Ethiopia is rich in lakes, most of which are result of tectonic process
took place during Quaternary period of Cenozoic era. .
• Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia, occupies a shallow
depression in the highlands.
• The Tana depression is believed to be formed following slower
sinking and reservoir by lava flow between Gojjam and Gonder
massifs.
• Majority of lakes are located within the Rift Valley
• Cluster of lakes are lined up within main Ethiopian rift.
• Lake Abaya is the largest of all the Rift Valley lakes in the system.
• Shala (266 m max depth)and Ziway are the deepest and shallowest
lakes in the central Ethiopian Rift
• The southern tip of the Rift Valley forms the marshy land called the
Chew Bahir which is drained by Segan and Woito.
 The Ethiopian Lakes….Cont’d
• Ethiopia is also gifted with crater lakes such as the lakes at
and around Bishoftu, Wonchi (near Ambo), Hayk (near Dessie)
and the Crater Lake on top of Mount Zikwala. Lake Ashenge it
is one of the crater lakes in the country and not associated
with the East African rift system; instead it is the result of
volcanism.
• Other types of lakes in Ethiopia are man-made or artificial
lakes such as Lakes, and many other lakes dammed following
Koka, Fincha and Melka Wakena hydroelectric power
generation projects.
Lakes of Ethiopia
 Area and depth of some of Ethiopian Lakes
No. Lake Nature of Area (km2) Max.
the lake Depth(m)
1 Tana Highland 3600 9
2 Abaya Rift Valley 1162 13.1
3 Chamo Rif Valley 551 13
4 Ziway Rift Valley 442 8.95*
5 Shala Rift Valley 409 266*
6 Koka Arteficial 205 9
7 Abijata Rift Valley 205 14
8 Awassa Rift Valley 129 10
9 Ashenge Crater 20 25
10 Hayk Crater 5 23
11 Beseka Crater 48.5 11
 Water Resources Potentials and Development in Ethiopia
• A. Hydro-electric Potential
• Ethiopian rivers have a very high potential for generating electricity;
with exploitable potential of 45, 000 megawatts.
• The first hydroelectric power generation plant was installed on Akaki
River (Aba Samuel) in 1932.
• Currently many HEP dams are operating and many others are under
construction (GERD, Gilgel Gibe IV)
• Today, Ethiopia is administering 14 hydroelectric power plants
constructed on lake Aba Samuel, Koka, Tis Abay, Awash, Melka
Wakena, Sor, Fincha, Gibe/Omo, Tana Beles and Tekeze, generating
close to 4000 megawatts of energy.
• Besides the domestic use of generated electricity, the country is
exporting electricity to the neighboring countries.
• The major problems related to the use of our rivers for HEP is
seasonal flow fluctuations and impact of climate change; and
 Water Resources Potentials and Development in
Ethiopia….Cont’d
B. Irrigation and Transportation
• In the highlands, steep slopes, rapids, waterfalls, narrow and deep
valleys and gorges limit the uses of Ethiopian rivers for irrigation and
transportation.
• In the lowlands, their demand for irrigation is high; potential of
irrigation is estimated to be 5.3 million hectares.
• The Baro-Akobo and Genale Dawa river systems have large irrigation
potential compared to other basins.
• About 60% of the area under irrigation so far is located in Rift Valley
Drainage System.
• Majority of Ethiopian rivers are not suitable for transportation. The
Baro at its lower course is the only navigable river.
• Ethiopian lakes are much suitable for transportation than rivers.
• Lake Tana and Abaya are relatively better used for transportation.
 Water Resources Potentials and Development in
Ethiopia….Cont’d
C. Fishing and Recreation
• The majority of Ethiopian lakes are rich in fish.
• Currently the annual production of fish is estimated to be 31.5
thousand tons; where Lake Tana leads the potential by estimated
8,000-10,000 tons per year.
• Fish production from Lake Chamo is estimated at 4,500 tons per
year.
• Some of the lakes are currently threatened by sedimentation,
invasive species (water hyacinth), over exploitation and expansion
of investments around lakes.
 Fishing and Recreation….Cont’d

• Rivers and lakes have enormous touristic potential.

• There are a variety of fish, birds and other aquatic life forms in
the lakes;
• This and the scenic beauty of the lakes, the hot springs
around them, the spectacular river gorges and the most
impressive waterfalls make Ethiopian rivers and lakes
important recreational and tourist attractions.
• As they are the natural habitat of a variety of wild life, some
of which are only endemic to Ethiopia, their value for
scientific purposes is immense.
Thank You !