CHAPTER FOUR

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE

OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
 4.1. Introduction

 About 71% of the earth's total surface is covered by water bodies

majorly occupied by seas and oceans.
 Of the earth's total water surface, nearly 97.5% is alkaline
accumulated in seas and oceans.
 The remaining 2.5% is fresh water, of which nearly 68.7% is
deposited in glaciers, 30.1% in ground water, 0.8% in
permafrost and 0.4% in surface waters.

 Water in lakes, rivers, atmosphere, soils and wetlands are

considered as surface waters.
 Surface and ground waters are by far the most abundant and
easily available fresh waters.
 Cont’d
- However, fresh water is distributed unevenly throughout the world
following varied latitudinal locations, climatic and topographic
setups.
- The diverse topographical setup, relatively higher rainfall & its
nearness to equator made Ethiopia to have larger volume of
ground & surface water.
- In Ethiopia, around 0.7 % of the total land mass of the country is
covered by water bodies.
- Although it requires further detailed investigation, the country's
surface water potential as studied in different integrated river basin
master plans is estimated to be 124.4 billion cubic meters (BCM).
- Consequently, many call Ethiopia, the water tower of “Eastern
Africa”.
 Cont’d

4.2. Major Drainage System of Ethiopia

The flow of water through well-defined channel is known as
drainage.
A drainage system - is made up of a principal river & its tributaries
together with the land slope.
• Refers to the direction and destination of the rivers.
A river system begins at a place called the source or headwater
and ends at a point called mouth.
Therefore, a drainage system is branched network of stream
channels together with the adjacent land slopes they drain.
The drainage pattern of an area is the outcome of the geological
processes, nature and structure of rocks, topography, slope,
amount and the periodicity of the flow.
 Cont’d
A drainage basin is the topographic region 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 water
divide or topographic divide.
The general patterns of major river basins in Ethiopia are
determined by topographical structures which can be clarified
as:
A) The topography of the outward sloping of the Western and South
eastern plateaus
B) The structural formation of the Rift Valley with its in-ward-sloping
escarpments resulting mainly in an inland drainage system.
C) Faults and joints that structurally influence part of the courses of
many rivers.
 The Major Drainage Systems
Following the complex physiographic setup and geological makeup, Ethiopia
possesses three broadly classified drainage systems namely Western, South-
eastern and Rift Valley-Drainage Systems.
Western and the South-eastern drainage systems are separated by the Rift Valley
system.
4.2.1. 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
carry 60 percent of the annual water flow.
 Most of the catchment area coextends with the westward sloping
part of the western highlands and western lowlands.
 Four major river basins of Western Drainage Systems are: Tekeze,
Abay, Baro-Akobo, Ghibe (Omo).
 Cont’d

• Unlike other river basins in the system, the Ghibe (Omo) flows
southward.
• The Abay, Tekeze and Baro flow westward ultimately joining the
Nile which finally ends at Mediterranean Sea.
• The largest river both in volumetric discharge and coverage in the
western drainage systems is the Abay.
• Abay river basin covers an area of 199,812 km2, covering parts of
Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states.
• Together with its tributaries, most of which are left-bank
tributaries; it carries 65 percent of the annual water flow of the
region.
• Abay which rises from Lake Tana (some sources indicate its origin
from Sekela, Choke mountain) flows about 1,450 kilometres and
joins the White Nile in Khartoum, Sudan to form the Nile River
 Cont’d

• More than 60 streams drain the Abay within elevation ranging

between 500 - 4261 meters above sea level.
• The largest of these is Ghilgel Abay (Little Abay). Abay flows
eastward, turns 180 degree to make a large bend and after cutting
an impressive and deep gorge emerges out in the west.
• Similarly, the Tekeze and its tributaries, carrying 12 percent of the
annual water flow of the region drains. 82,350 Km² of land surface
within elevation ranging between 536-4517 meters above sea
level.
• Erosion in the basin resulted in large tablelands, plateau blocks
and isolated mountain groups.
• The basin has two main tributaries (Angereb and Goang) which
rises in the central highlands of Ethiopia.
 Cont’d

• Tekeze River is termed Atbara in Sudan, which is a tributary of

the Nile.
• The total mean annual flow from the basin is estimated to be
8.2 billion metric cubes (BMC, here after).
• The Baro-Akobo and Ghibe/Omo rivers drain the wettest
highlands in the south and south western Ethiopia.
• They carry 17% and 6 % of the annual water flow respectively.

• The Ghibe/Omo river basin drains an area of 79,000 km² with

an estimated mean annual flow of 16.6 BMC.
• In the lower course, the Baro River flows across an extensive
marshy land.
 Cont’d

Baro Akobo river basin has an area of 75,912 km², covering

parts of the Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia and
SNNPR.
The total mean annual flow from the river basin is estimated to
be 23.6 BMC.
The Baro together with 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 (an elongated Rift Valley lake)
thereby forming an inland drainage.
4.2.2. The South -eastern Drainage Systems
• Nearly the entire physiographic region of south-
eastern part of Ethiopia is drained by the south-
eastern drainage systems.
• The basin which is mainly drained by
Wabishebelle and Ghenale, slopes south-
eastwards across large water deficient plains.
• Major highlands of this basin include plateaus of
Arsi, Bale, Sidama and Harerghe.
• Wabshebelle and Ghenale rivers 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, which has fewer tributaries but carries
more water than Wabishebelle, reaches the Indian
 Cont’d
• The basin flows estimated to be 5.8 BMC within elevation
ranging between 171-4385 meters above sea level.
• In Somalia it is named the Juba River.
• 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.
• Its tributaries are mainly left bank and, most of them, are
intermittent.
• Despite its size, the Wabishebelle fails to reach the Indian
Ocean where at the end of its journey it flows parallel to the
coast before its water disappears in the sands, just near the Juba
River.
Figure 4.1. Drainage Basin of Ethiopia
 4.2.3. The Rift Valley Drainage System

The Rift Valley drainage system is an area of small amount of

rainfall, high evaporation and small catchment area.
The size of the drainage area is restricted by the outward sloping
highlands, which starts right from the edge of the escarpment.
The Rift Valley drainage system is therefore left with the slopes of
the escarpment and the Rift Valley floor itself as the catchment area.
The only major river basin is that of the Awash. Awash river basin
has a catchment area of 114,123 km2 and has an average annual
discharge of 4.9 billion cubic meters.
The Awash River originates from Shewan plateau in central
highlands of Ethiopia, and flows 1250 kms. It covers parts of the
Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa, and Addis Ababa City
Administration.
 Cont’d

• In the Rift Valley drainage systems, there is no one general flow

direction, as the streams flow in all directions.
• Following the Rift Valley orientation, the Awash flows in a
northeast direction.
• It finally ends in a maze of small lakes and marshy area; the
largest of which is Lake Abe on the Ethio-Djibouti border.
• The Afar drainage sub-basin has practically no stream flow.
• It is an area of little rain, very high temperature and very high
evaporation.
• Lake Afrera and Asale are the only main surface waters in the
basin which are not the result of any meaningful surface flow.
Their formation is related to tectonic activities.
 cont’d
• The Southern part of the Rift Valley sub-basin is
characterized by a number of lakes and small streams.
• It is also described as lakes region.
• 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.
Likewise, some of these lakes are interconnected. Lakes
Ziway and Langano drain into Lake Abijiata through the small
streams of Bulbula and Horocolo respectively.
 4.3. Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and Sub-Surface Water
4.3.1. 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.
• Altogether, Ethiopian rivers form12 major watersheds separating
the Mediterranean Sea from the Indian Ocean drainage systems.
Table 4.1: Data on major Ethiopian rivers
 cont’d
Table 4.1: Data on major Ethiopian rivers
River Catchment Annual Terminus Major tributaries
Area(km²) Volume /Mouth
Abay 199,812 4.5 Mediterranean Dabus, Dedessa, Fincha,
Guder, Muger, Jema,
Beshilo
wabishebelle 202,697 3.4 Coast of Indian Ramis Erer, Daketa Fafan
Ocean
Genale 171,042 6 Indian-Ocean Dawa, Weyb, Welmel,
Dawa Mena
Awash 114,123 4.9 Inland Akaki, Kesem, Borkena,
Mile
Tekeze 87,733 8.2 Mediterranean Goang, Angereb
Gibe (Omo) 79,000 16.6 Lake Turkana Gojeb
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.
• Almost all major rivers originate from the highlands elevating
more than 1500 meters above sea level,
• Majority of Ethiopian rivers are trans-boundary,
• Due to the marked seasonality of rainfall, Ethiopian rivers are
characterized by extreme seasonal fluctuation.
• In the wet season, runoff is higher and rivers are full bursting their
banks, destroying small bridges, damage roads and flooding low
lands; during the dry seasons they became mere trickles of water
or even dry up,
 cont’d

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,
Rivers in Ethiopia flow on steep slopes having steep profiles.
Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both international and
domestic administrative units.
4.3.2. The Ethiopian Lakes
Relatively Ethiopia is rich in lakes. Almost all Ethiopian lakes are
result of tectonic process that took place during Quaternary period
of Cenozoic era.
Except few Ethiopian lakes, majority of lakes are located within
the Rift Valley System.
 Cont’d
 The lakes in the drainage are mainly formed on faulted depressions
and are clustered along the system forming linear pattern
 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.
 Ethiopia is also gifted with crater lakes( through volcanic eruption).
 These include the lakes at and around Bishoftu, Wonchi (near
Ambo), Hayk (near Dessie) and the Crater Lake on top of Mount
Zikwala. Lake Ashenge (Tigray) is formed on a tectonic basin.

 Other types of lakes in Ethiopia are man-made such as Lakes Koka,

Fincha and Melka Wakena, and many other lakes dammed following
hydroelectric power generation projects.
 Cont’d
Cluster of lakes are lined up within main Ethiopian rift.
Lake Abaya is the largest of all the lakes in the system.
The southern tip of the Rift Valley forms the marshy land called
the Chew Bahir which is drained by Segan and Woito.
Shala and Ziway are the deepest and the shallowest lakes in the
central Ethiopian Rift respectively.

Lake Area (km²) Depth(m) Lake Area (km²) Depth(m²)

Tana 3600 9 Abijata 205 14

Abaya 1162 13.1 Hawassa 129 10
Chamo 551 13 Ashenge 20 25
Ziway 442 8.95 Hayk 5 23
Shala 409 266 Beseka 48.5 11
Koka 205 9
 Cont’d

4.3.3. Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource of Ethiopia

• As compared to surface water resources, Ethiopia has lower
ground water potential.
• However, there exists higher total exploitable groundwater
potential.
• Climatic and geophysical conditions determine the availability of
groundwater resource.
• Based on existing scanty knowledge, the groundwater potential
of Ethiopia is estimated to be 2.6 - 6.5 BMC.
• However, this estimate is now considered underestimated.
Considering various separate studies, Ethiopian potential of
groundwater is believed to range between 12-30 BMC.
 4.4. Water Resources Potentials and Development in Ethiopia
• The enormous water resource potential of Ethiopia is
underutilized due to so many factors.
• However, there are plenteous of opportunities that can transform
the resource into our collective social and economic needs. The
followings are some of potential development uses of water
resource of Ethiopia.
A) Hydro-electric Potential
Ethiopian rivers have a very high potential for generating
electricity.
The exploitable potential of hydroelectric power is estimated at
about 45000 megawatts.
The first hydroelectric power generation plant was installed on
Akaki River (Aba Samuel) in 1932.
 Cont’d
• Currently many hydroelectric power dams are operating and many others are
under construction to realize Ethiopia’s ambitious energy goals.
• Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the country’s largest dam under
construction aiming to generate 6400 megawatts.
• Gilgel Gibe III hydropower project has gone operational generating 1870
megawatts.
• Currently Ethiopia is administering 14 hydroelectric power plants
constructed on Lake Aba Samuel, Koka, Tis Abay, Awash(koka), 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 neighbouring countries.
The major problem related to the use of Ethiopian rivers for the generation of
hydroelectric power is:-
1. The seasonal flow fluctuations and impact of climate change and variability's.
[Link] severe erosion from the highlands & sedimentation in the
reservoirs.
 B) Irrigation and Transportation
• The terrain in Ethiopia is so rugged that it limits the uses of Ethiopian rivers
both for irrigation and transportation.
• In the highlands, steep slopes, rapids, waterfalls, narrow and deep valleys and
gorges are important obstacles.

• But on the lowlands, their demand for irrigation is high. Regardless of existing
physiographic setups, Ethiopia’s 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.
• Despite the untapped irrigation practice, more than 60% of the area under
irrigation so far is located in Rift Valley Drainage System.
• Except few, majority of hydro-electric reservoirs are multi-purpose and are
expected to contribute for irrigation.
 Cont’d
- Majority of Ethiopian rivers are not suitable for transportation.
- The Baro at its lower course is the only navigable river.
- Comparatively, Ethiopian lakes are much suitable for transportation than
rivers.
- Lake Tana and Abaya are relatively the most used for transportation.
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.
The exploitable potential is however, by far greater than the current
production. Exploitable fish Potential in lakes varies .
Currently 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.
 Cont’d

However, more than 60% of fish supplies are coming from Ethiopian
main Rift Valley lakes.
However, some of the lakes are currently threatened by
sedimentation, invasive species (water hyacinth), over exploitation
and expansion of investments around lakes.
• 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.