Ethiopian Geography and the

Horn
101
Chapter one
• Meaning of Geography
• Geography is the scientific study of the Earth that describes and
analyses spatial and temporal variations of physical, biological and
human phenomena, and their interrelationships and dynamism over
the surface of the Earth
The Scope, Approaches and Themes of
Geography
The scope
• the scope of Geography is the surface of the Earth, which is the very thin
zone that is the interface of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and
biosphere, which provides the habitable zone in which humans are able to
live
Approaches
The topical (systematic) fields of Geography view particular categories of
physical or human phenomena as distributed over the Earth
regional geography is concerned with the associations within regions of all or
some of the elements and their interrelationships.
Geography has five basic themes these are location,place,human
environment interaction,movement and region

• Location is defined as a particular place or position; Location can

be of two types: absolute location and relative location.
Place refers to the physical and human aspects of a location
toponym (the name of a place),
site (the description of the features of the place),
situation (the environmental conditions of the place).
Human-Environment Interaction
• human-environment interaction involves three distinct aspects
Dependency refers to the ways in which humans are dependent on
nature for a living.
Adaptation relates to how humans modify themselves, their lifestyles
and their behavior to live in a new environment with new challenges
Modification allowed humans to “conquer” the world for their
comfortable living.
Movement
• The physical movement of people
• the transport of goods
• the flow of ideas that allows the unification of the human civilization
and promotes its growth and prosperity.
Region
• A region is a geographic area having distinctive characteristics that
distinguishes itself from adjacent unit(s) of space
Location, Shape and Size of Ethiopia and the
Horn
• Location of Ethiopia
Astronomical location,or absolute using the lines of latitudes and
longitudes.
3 degree N (Moyale) and 15 degree N (Bademe - the northernmost tip
of Tigray) latitudes
33degree E (Akobo) to 48 degree E (the tip of Ogaden in the east)
longitudes.
Relative location expresses the location of countries or places with
reference to the location of other countries (vicinal), landmasses or
water bodies.
The implications of the location of Ethiopia
a) Climate the country has a tropical climate, though modified by its altitude.
b) Socio-cultural Ethiopia is one of the earliest recipients of the major world
religions namely Christianity, Islam and Judaism due to its proximity to the Middle
East
• c) Political
Geopolitical considerations of superpowers
Adjacency to the Red Sea (a major global trade route)
The Middle East geopolitical paradigms
Size of Ethiopia
• total area 1,106,000 sq.kilometer
• the 8th largest country in Africa
• 25th in the World
1,639 kilometers East-West
1,577 kilometers North-South
About 0.7% of the country is covered by water bodies
The size of Ethiopia also affects both the natural and human
environment of the country
The shape of Ethiopia and its Implication
• Countries of the World have different kinds of shape that can be
divided into five main categories: compact, fragmented, elongated,
perforated, and protruded. These shapes have implications on
defense, administration and economic integration within a country
Basic Skills of Map Reading
What is a Map?
• A map is a two-dimensional scaled representation of part or whole of
the Earth surface on a flat body such as piece of paper, black board,
wood
• Map reading encompasses a systematic identification of natural
features and manmade features
Importance of maps
Provide the basis for making geographical details of regions represented
Maps are powerful tools for making spatial analysis of geographical facts of areas
represented
Maps are useful for giving location of geographical features
Maps are used on various disciplines like land use planning, military science,
aviation, tourism, marine science, population studies, epidemiology, geology,
economics, history, archaeology, agriculture etc.
Map makes storage of the geographical data of areas represented
Maps are potentially used to asses‟ reliable measurements of the geographical
features. The measurements can be of area size, distance
Types of Map
according to their purpose and functions.
a. Topographical maps: depict one or more natural and cultural
features of an area Contents of topographical maps depend on purpose
of a map, scale of a map, date of compilation, and nature of the land
represented
b. Special purpose/statistical maps: These are maps, which show
distribution of different aspects such as temperature, rainfall,
settlement, vegetation etc
Marginal Information on Maps (Elements of
Maps)
a. Title:
b.Key (legend):
c.Scale:
d. North arrow
e. Margin:
f. Date of compilation
Basic Principles of Map Reading
Map Readers must have ideas about the symbol and also the real
World (landscapes).
Secondly, knowledge of directions is an important principle in reading
maps. B 3`1
 Chapter Two
THE GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
• Introduction
Geology
• is an Earth science that studies the evolution,;the gradual devt of
organism,; of the earth
• the materials of which it is made of
• the processes acting upon them.
by indirect methods
geophysics(studying earthquake waves)
geochemistry(composition of rocks )
geochronology(finding the ages of rocks )
• The earth‟s continents were once bunched up together in to a single
huge continent called Pangaea. The large super continent was then
split into Gondwanaland where Africa is a part and Laurasia; and later
into smaller fragments over the last million years. These then drifted
apart to form the present arrangement of continents.
Cont,
• Australian Climatologist Alfred Wegener proposed the hypothesis that the
continents were once assembled together as a supercontinent, called the
Continental drift Theory.
• Wegener‟s principal observations were:
• Fit of the continents: The opposing coastlines of continents often fit together.
• Match of mountain belts, rock types: If the continents are reassembled as
Pangaea, mountains in West Africa, North America, Greenland, and Western
Europe match up.
• Distribution of fossils: The distribution of plants and animal fossils on separate
continents forms definite linked patterns if the continents are reassembled.
• Paleoclimates: rocks formed 200 million years ago in India, Australia, South
America, and southern Africa all exhibited evidence of continental glaciations
The Geologic Processes: Endogenic and
Exogenic Forces
• The internal processes (endogenic) include volcanic activity and all
the tectonic processes (folding, faulting, orogenesis (mountain
building), and epeirogenesis (slow rising and sinking of the landmass).
• The external (exogenic) processes are geomorphic processes. They
include weathering, mass transfer,; The net movement of mass from
one location e.g the evaporation of water from apondto the
atmosphere; erosion and deposition.
• The landmass of Ethiopia, as elsewhere, is the result of the combined
effect of endogenic and exogenic processes
The Geological Time Scale and Age Dating
Techniques
• the Paleozoic Era (ancient life) is the age of invertebrates
• the Mesozoic Era (the middle life) is the age of reptiles
• the Cenozoic Era (recent life) is the age of mammals
1. An epoch is the smallest unit of time on the scale and encompasses
a period of millions of years.
2. Chronologically, epochs are clumped together into larger units called
periods.
3. Periods are combined to make subdivisions called Eras.
4. An eon is the largest period of geological time.
Age Dating Techniques
• There are two techniques of knowing the age of rocks: Relative and
absolute age dating.
• A. Relative Dating
Relative dating uses geological evidence to assign comparative ages of
fossils which one is younger and which is older .
B. Absolute Dating
This technique was developed with discovery of radioactivity in 1896.
The Precambrian Era Geologic Processes (4.5
billion - 600 million years ago)
• The Precambrian Era covers 5/6th of the Earth‟s history
• the land was subjected to intense folding The result was the formation of
huge mountain ranges.
• forming the basement rocks
• by pressure and heat the original rocks were altered into metamorphic
rocks Since these same processes have allowed mineralization and crystal
formation, the rocks are also collectively described as crystalline rocks
• The Precambrian rocks are overlaid by recent rock formations. However, as
surface rocks covering 25% of the land mass of the country
Cont.
they are found exposed in the following areas
• In the northern part: Western lowlands, parts of northern and central
Tigray.
A. In the western Part: Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz (Metekel and
Asossa), western Gojjam, western Wellega, Illuababora, and Abay
gorge.
B. In the southern Part: Guji, southern Omo, and parts of southern Bale
and Borena.
C. In the eastern part: Eastern Hararghe.
The Paleozoic Era Geologic Processes (600
million - 225 million years ago) (ancient life)
• is the age of invertebrates
• The major geological process of this Era was denudation.
• The gigantic mountains that were formed by the Precambrian
orogeny were subjected to intense and prolonged denudation.
• At the end, the once gigantic mountain ranges were reduced to a
“peneplained” surface.
• Because of the limited deposition within Ethiopia, rocks belonging to
this Era are rare in the country.
The Mesozoic Era Geologic Processes (225-70
million years ago) (the middle life)
• It was an Era of alternate slows sinking and rising (epeirogenesis) of
the landmass.
• the flourishing of marine life
• is the age of reptiles
Mesozoic rocks are considered to have the greatest potential for oil
and gas deposits.
• the sands and lime were compacted to form sandstone and limestone
layers respectively. These are known as the Adigrat sand stone and
Hintalo limestone layers. They are named after place names in Tigray
where they might have been first identified.
Cont.
• As surface rocks, these old marine sediments are extensively found in
the Southeast lowlands. Other exposures include central Tigray, and
along the gorges of Abay and Wabishebelle rivers
The Cenozoic Era Geologic Processes
(70million years ago - Present) (recent life)
• is the age of mammals
• The Cenozoic Era is the most recent of the geologic Eras.
• The tectonic and volcanic activities that took place in this Era have an
important effect in the making of the present-day landmass of Ethiopia and
the Horn of Africa.
• Three geologic activities are takes place.
a. Uplifting of the Arabo-Ethiopian landmass and outpouring of huge
quantity of lava.
b. Formation of the Rift Valley.
c. Quaternary volcanism and deposition
Uplifting of the Arabo-Ethiopian landmass and
outpouring of lava flood
• The whole of the Arabo-Ethiopian landmass was pushed up in blocks
as one mass.
• The greatest uplift was in central Ethiopia.
• This immense tectonic force also fractured the crust at many places.
• Huge quantity of lava came out through these fractures.
• The out pouring of this flood of basalt spread widely and extensively
and covered a large part of the Mesozoic sedimentary layer to form
the Ethiopian plateau surface and also the floor of the present-day
Rift Valley. At that time the Rift Valley was not yet formed.
Cont.
• Where the lava comes out through vents.
• huge volcanic rocks were piled up to form many and huge Volcanic
Mountains‟ towering the flat basaltic plateau. This volcanic material
is known as Trappean lava or Trap Series lava.
The Formation of the Rift Valley
• the Rift Valley may be lying on the Earth‟s crust below which lateral
movement of the crust in opposite directions producing tensional
forces that caused parallel fractures or faults on the sides of the up-
arched swell. As the tension widened the fractures, the central part of
the landmass collapsed to form an extensive structural depression
known as the Rift Valley
Cont.
• The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden were connected as a result of the
rifting and faulting of the land bridge that separated them.
The Spatial Extent of the Rift Valley
• The Ethiopian Rift Valley is part of the Great East African Rift system
• that extends from Palestine-Jordan in the north to Malawi-
Mozambique in the south.
• for a distance of about 7,200 kilometers.
• Of these, 5,600 kilometers is in Africa, and 1,700 kilometers in Eritrea
and Ethiopia.
• On land, the widest part of the Rift Valley is the Afar Triangle (200-300
km).
• The Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the East African System meet and
form the triangular depression of the Afar
Cont.
• where the Kobar Sink lies about 125 meters below sea level.
• The formation of the Gulf of Aden and the separation of the Arabian
Peninsula from the Horn of Africa also took place during the Tertiary
period.
• The Rift Valley region of Ethiopian is the most unstable part of the
country.
• There are numerous hot springs, fumorales, active volcanoes, geysers,
and frequent earthquakes
The formation of the Rift Valley has the
following structural (physiographic) effects

• It divides the Ethiopian Plateau into two.

• It separates the Arabian landmass from African landmass.
• It causes the formation of the Dead Sea, Red Sea and the Gulf of
Aden troughs.
• It creates basins and fault depressions on which the Rift Valley lakes
are formed
Quaternary Volcanic Eruptions and Depositions
• This activity was generally limited to the floor of the Rift Valley and
the region south of Lake Tana, where the lava covers an area of more
than 3,000km2. Aden volcanics and recent faulting are more
extensively developed in the Afar region.
Quaternary Deposition
• the Earth experienced a marked climatic change
• This was the time of the last „‟Ice Age‟ in the middle and high
latitude areas
• the time of the Pluvial Rains in Africa.
• The heavy Pluvial Rains eroded the Ethiopian plateau and the eroded
materials were deposited in the Rift Valley lakes. They carried a lot of
water and sediments …
• For example, Ziway-Langano-Shalla; Hawasa-Shallo; Chamo-Abaya;
and Lake Abe and the nearby smaller lakes and marsh basins formed
huge lakes.
Cont.
• The quaternary deposits are mainly found in the Rift Valley (Afar and
Lakes Region)
• Baro lowlands,
• southern Borena,
• northwestern low lands.
• the Cenozoic rocks cover 50% of the land mass of the country.
Rock and Mineral Resources of Ethiopia
• The occurrence of metallic minerals in Ethiopia is associated with the
Precambrian rocks
• The exploitation and search for mineral deposits in Ethiopia has been
taking place for the past 2000 years or so.
• the case of gold production and utilization, which has become part of
Ethiopia's history, tradition and folklore
Brief Facts and Current State of Main Minerals
in Ethiopia
• Gold
• Gold has been mined in Ethiopia for quite long time, mainly from
Benishangul-Gumuz (Metekel) and Adola.
• primary sources gold deposits, Lega-dembi.
• Secondary gold deposits, Adola, Shakiso, Kaffa, In Gambella and
Illuababora (Akobo River), in Sidama (Wondo), Borena (Negele-Yabelo
area) and in Benishangul-Gumuz (Sherkole), west Wellega.
• Platinum
The Yubdo area in Wellega, is the only active Ethiopian Platinum mine.
Tantalum

• Significant deposit of tantalum and niobium is found in southern

Ethiopia, in Adola more than 17,000 metric tons of world class ore
reserve is found.
Gemstones ,opal
occur in many parts of Ethiopia, mainly in Amhara and Oromia
Regional States.
Potash
• The potash reserve in the Danakil (Dallol Depression) of the Afar
region is believed to be significant.
Gypsum and Anhydrite
• A limited amount of gypsum is produced for domestic consumption in
Ethiopia, mainly for the cement industry, but very large deposits are
known to occur in sedimentary formations of the Red Sea coastal
area, Danakil Depression, Ogaden, Shewa, Gojjam, Tigray, and
Hararghe.
• Clay
Ethiopia is endowed with industrial clay material. Alluvial clay deposits
for bricks and tile, pottery and pipe industry occur in Adola, Abay
gorge, and the Rift Valley lakes region. Ceramic clay for the production
of glasses, plates, bricks is found at Ambo and Adola. Tabor ceramic
industry in Hawassa gets most of its raw materials from local sources
Marble
• Crystalline limestone is widespread in the basement rocks of Ethiopia.
• Marble has been quarried in such localities as west of Mekelle and
south of Adwa in Tigray. In the northwestern also in areas built of
Precambrian schist in Gonder, and the Dabus River and other
neighboring river basins in Benishangul-Gumuz and Gojjam.
Construction stones
• Basalt, granite, limestone and sandstone are important building
stones. For the surfacing of roads and compaction, basalt, scoria and
other volcanic rocks are extensively used.
Mineral Potential Sites of Ethiopia

• 1. The Western and South-western-greenstone belt:

• 2. The Southern greenstone belt

• 3. The Northern greenstone belt(Tigray):

 CHAPTER THREE
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
• General Characteristics of the Ethiopian Physiography
• The Ethiopian landform is characterized by great diversity. There are
• flat-topped plateaus, High and rugged mountains, deep river gorges
and vast plains.
• Altitude ranges from 125 meters below sea level (Kobar Sink) to the
highest mountain in Ethiopia, Mount Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l),
• which is the fourth highest mountain in Africa.
Highland

These highlands make up nearly 56% of the area of the Ethiopia.

Characteristics of Ethiopian highlands:

➢Moderate and high amount of rainfall (>600 mm per year).

➢Lower mean annual temperature (<20
➢The climate is favourable for biotic life.
➢ Rain-fed agriculture is possible..
➢Free from tropical diseases.
➢Attractive for human habitation and densely settled.
Lowland

• In contrast to the highlands, the remaining 44% of the Ethiopian lowlands

are
➢characterized by:.
• Fewer amounts of rainfall and higher temperature.
• High prevalence of tropical diseases
• Lower population densities.
• Nomadic and semi-nomadic economic life.
• Vast plain lands favourable for irrigation agriculture along the lower river
basins.
The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
• Following the structural divisions brought about by the geologic
processes of the Cenozoic Era,
• three major physiographic units can be identified in Ethiopia. These
are:
1.The Western highlands and lowlands
2.The South-eastern (Eastern) highlands and lowlands
3.The Rift Valley
The Western Highlands and Lowlands
• This physiographic unit includes all the area west of the Rift Valley
• It extends from north to south encompassing nearly the whole
western half of Ethiopia
• It makes up about 44% of the area of the country
• the land gradually descends in altitude until it merges into the
western foothills and lowlands, along the Sudan and South Sudan
border.
• four groups of highlands (76.3%)
• four groups of lowlands (23.7%)
1.The Western Highlands

A.The Tigray Plateau

• Tekeze river drain this plateau
• Ambas
• rugged topography
• Mount Tsibet (3988 m.a.s.l)
• Mount Ambalage (3291 m.a.s.l)
• Mount Assimba (3248 m.a.s.l).
• The famous monastery at Debre-Damo, a tableland that can only be
climbed by a rope pulley is
• this plateau with elevations of over 3000 meters
B. North Central Massifs
• This Physiographic division is the largest in the western highlands
• The Abay, Tekeze rivers drain the area
• The region consists of the Gonder, Wello and Gojjam Massifs
• Out of the 26 mountain peaks with altitude of more than 4,000m.a.s.l in
Ethiopia
• 19 mountain peaks are found in this physiographic region
• Mount Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l)
• Mount Weynobar/Ancua (4462 m.a.s.l),
• Mount Bwahit (4437 m.a.s.l)
• Mount Guna (4,231m.a.s.l) in the Debre Tabour
Cont.
• Abune Yoseph (4,260 m.a.s.l) in the Lasta highlands of Wello
• Mount Birhan (4,154 m.a.s.l) in the Choke Mountain System in Gojjam
• These mountains have steep cliffs and rugged terrain that provide
scenic views to climbers
C. The Shewa Plateau/central highlands
• This plateau occupies a central geographical position in Ethiopia
• With only 11% of the area of the whole physiographic region
• the Shewa Plateau is the smallest of the Western highlands.
• Nearly three-fourth of its area is at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters
above sea level
• The Shewa plateau is drained, outward in all directions by the tributaries of
Abay, Omo, and Awash.
• The highest mountain in the Shewan plateau
Mount Abuye-Meda (4,000 m.a.s.l) in Northern Shewa
Mount Guraghe in the south is 3,721 meters high.
D. The Southwestern Highlands

• This Physiographic subdivision consists of the highlands of

Wellega, Illuababora, Jimma, Kaffa, Gamo and Gofa.
• It extends from the Abay gorge in the north to the Kenya border and Chew Bahir in the
south
• It accounts for 22.7% of the area of the region.
• 70% of its area is lies within 1,000-2,000 meters altitude
• The southwestern plateau is the wettest in Ethiopia.
• It is drained by Dabus, Deddessa (tributaries of Abay), Baro, Akobo and the Ghibe/Omo
rivers.
• accommodates the most numerous and diverse ethnic linguistic groups in Ethiopia
• With a height of 4,200 meters above sea level
• Guge Mountain is the highest peak in this physiographic subdivision
E. The Western Lowlands
• irrigation agriculture is highly feasible. For example, the Baro lowland
has an extensive flat area suitable for mechanized agriculture
• The Ghibe/Omo lowland, which includes the lower Ghibe/Omo Valley
structurally it also belongs to the Rift Valley
In the Western lowlands, there are small but important towns These
are Humera, Metema, Omedla, Kurmuk, Gambella etc.
The Southeastern Highlands and Lowlands
• This physiographic region is the second largest in terms of area
• It accounts for 37% of the area of Ethiopia.
• The highlands make up 46% of the physiographic division while the
rest is lowland.
The Southeastern Highlands
A. The Arsi-Bale-Sidama Highlands
They make up 28.5% of the area of the region
62% of the south - Eastern Highlands
The Arsi Highlands
• The well-known mountains in this area
Mount Kaka (4,180 m.a.s.l)
Mount Bada (4,139 m.a.s.l)
Mount Chilalo (4,036 m.a.s.l).
The bale highland
The Bale highlands are separated from the Arsi highlands by the head and main
stream of Wabishebelle.
The highest mountain peaks
Tulu-Demtu (4,377 m.a.s.l)
Mount Batu (4,307 m.a.s.l).
The Arsi-Bale Highlands are important grains producing areas with still high
potential. (Wheat, barley etc)
The Sidama Highlands
• are separated from the Bale Highlands by the Ghenale river valley.
• The prominent feature here is the Jemjem plateau, an important
coffee growing area.
• Rivers Wabishebelle and Ghenale along with their tributaries have
dissected this physiographic region.
• Weyb River, tributary of Ghenale
• Sof Omar cave The cave is found near Bale Mountains.
B. The Hararghe Plateau
• This plateau is a north-easterly extension of the south-eastern
highlands
• It extends from the Chercher highlands in the south-west to Jigjiga in
the east
• It makes up 38% of the South Eastern highlands
• 17.4% of the whole physiographic region
• The left-bank tributaries of Wabishebelle drain it.
• The highest mountain here is Mount Gara-Muleta (3,381 m.a.s.l).
The Southeastern Lowlands
• They make up 54% of the area of the physiographic region and around one-
fifth of the country.
• the most extensive lowlands in Ethiopia
➢Wabishebelle plain (60%)
➢Ghenale Plain (40%)
➢the plains of Ogaden, Elkere, and Borena
Economic importance
sparsely inhabited by pastoral and semi-pastoral communities
animal husbandry, irrigation, agriculture and perhaps exploitation of
petroleum and natural gas.
The Rift Valley
• The formation of the Rift Valley has separated the Ethiopian
Highlands and Lowlands in to two.
• It extends from the Afar triangle in the north to Chew Bahir for about
1,700 km2.
• It covers 18% of the area of Ethiopia.
The Rift Valley is further subdivided into three
physiographic sub-regions
➢the Afar Triangle,
➢the Main Ethiopian Rift
➢the Chew Bahir Rift

1.The Afar Triangle

• The Afar Triangle is the largest and widest part of the Rift Valley
• It makes up 54% of the Rift Valley area
• The area is generally of low altitude (300-700 meters)
• Lake Asal, fluctuating at around 125 meters below sea level, represent the
lowest subaerial point of the African continent
The area is characterized by
➢faulted depressions (grabens)
➢volcanic hills
➢active volcanoes
➢volcanic ridges
➢lava fields and low lava platforms
➢Lakes (Abe, Asale, and Afrera) occupy some of these basins
➢A prominent feature in this region is the Denakil Depression (Kobar Sink).
Separated from the Red Sea by a 200 meters high land barrier
➢Lake Asale and Lake Afrera occupy the lowest parts of this sunken
depression.
➢The Afar Triangle is generally hot and dry.
The economic importance
➢salt extraction
➢irrigation along the Awash River
➢electric potential from geothermal energy
The Main Ethiopian Rift/Central Rift
• This part of the Rift Valley is the narrowest and the highest
• It has an average width of 50-80 kilometers and general elevation of
1,000-2,000 meters above sea level.
The Floor in many places is dotted by cinder
cones and volcanic mountains
The big ones
➢Mount Fentale
➢Boseti-guda (near Adama)
➢Aletu (north of Lake Ziway)
➢Chebi (north of Lake Hawasa).
❖Because of altitude, the lakes region of the Main Ethiopian Rift is generally
milder and watery.
Economic importance
rain-fed agriculture is practiced
recreational value of the lakes
The Chew Bahir Rift
• This is the smallest and the southern-most part of the Rift Valley
• The characteristic feature of this region is the broad and shallow
depression
• a marshy area covered by tall grass, into which the Segen and Woito
streams empty
The Impacts of Relief on Biophysical and
Socioeconomic Conditions
➢Agricultural practices
➢Settlement pattern
➢Transportation and communication
➢Hydroelectric power potential
➢Socio-cultural feeling
➢Impacts on climate
➢Impacts on soil
➢Impacts on natural vegetation
 CHAPTER FOUR
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE OF
ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
• About 71% of the earth‟s total surface is covered by water bodies majorly
occupied by seas and oceans.
• 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
• fresh water is distributed unevenly throughout the world following varied
latitudinal locations, climatic and topographic setups.
• 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
• The flow of water through well-defined channel is known as drainage
• A river system begins at a place called the source or headwater
• A river system ends at a point called mouth
• The drainage pattern of an area is the outcome of the geological processes,
• Nature.
• structure of rocks.
• Topography.
• Slope.
• amount and the periodicity of the flow.
The general patterns of major river basins in
Ethiopia are determined by topographical
structures which can be clarified as:
.the Western and South eastern plateaus
.The structural formation of the Rift Valley mainly in an inland drainage
system.
.Faults and joints that structurally influence part of the courses of many
rivers.
The Major Drainage Systems
• Ethiopia possesses three broadly classified drainage systems namely.
A. The Western Drainage Systems.
B. The Southeastern Drainage Systems.
C. The Rift Valley Drainage System
A. The Western Drainage Systems.

• the largest of all drainage systems draining 40 percent of the total

area of the country.
• carry 60 percent of the annual water flow.
• four major river basins namely;
• The Abay,
• The Tekeze,
• The Baro-Akobo,
• The Ghibe (Omo). (flow southward)
Abay
• The largest river both in volumetric discharge and coverage in the western
drainage systems is the Abay.
• covers an area of 199,812 km2.
• covering parts of Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states.
• Together with its 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.
• 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).
Tekeze
• carrying 12 percent of the annual water flow of the region.
• Area that covering 82,350 Km2 of land surface.
• 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).
• 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)
The Baro-Akobo
• flows across an extensive marshy land.
• carry 17 percent of the annual water flow
• 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.
Ghibe / Omo rivers
• an area of 79,000 km2
• with an estimated mean annual flow of 16.6 BMC
• 6 percent of the annual water flow
• 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.
The Southeastern Drainage Systems
• The basin which is mainly drained by Wabishebelle and Ghenale,
slopes south-eastwards across large water deficient plains.
• Wabshebelle and Ghenale rivers cross the border into Somalia.
• carrying 25 percent of the annual water flow of Ethiopia.
Ghenale
• 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 Ocean.
• The basin flows estimated to be 5.8 BMC.
• elevation ranging between 171-4385 meters above sea level.
• In Somalia it is named the Juba River.
Wabishebelle
• 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 fails to reach the Indian Ocean
The Rift Valley Drainage System
• The Rift Valley drainage system is an area of
• small amount of rainfall,
• high evaporation
• small catchment area.
Awash.
• The only major river basin
• has catchment area of 114,123 km2.
• has an average annual discharge of 4.9 billion cubic meters.
• originates from Shewan plateau in central highlands of Ethiopia
• flows 1250 kms
• 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 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
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.
• Meki and Katar Rivers flow into Ziway;
• Bilate into Abaya;
• Segen into Chew Bahir
• Lakes Ziway and Langano drain into Lake Abijiata through the small
streams of Bulbula and Horocolo respectively.
Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and Sub-
Surface Water
The Ethiopian Rivers.
Majority of the rivers originate from highland areas and cross the Ethiopian boundary.
General Characteristics of Ethiopian Rivers
• almost all major rivers originate from the highlands
• elevating more than 1500 meters above sea level,
• Majority of Ethiopian rivers are trans-boundary,
• extreme seasonal fluctuation, Due to the marked 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,
• Rivers in Ethiopia flow on steep slopes having steep profiles.
• Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both international and domestic administrative units.