WATER RESOURCES OF ETHIOPIA

• Ethiopia is among the few countries that have many rivers
• Characteristics of Ethiopian River

  1.seasonal fluctuation in water volume;

  2.steep profiles; they arise from very high places and flow to the country’s borders across lowlands;

  3.rapids and waterfalls along their courses;

  4.running through steep-sided river valleys and gorges;

  5.serve as boundaries, both international and domestic.
• By African standard, Ethiopia is a country rich in lakes
• Most of the lakes are the result of structures that occurred during the Quaternary Period
• Highland Lakes


  These lakes are situated on the plateaus, either as crater or watershed lakes.
• A crater lake is formed after an explosive volcano breaks a mountain open, leaving a deep mouth. The mouth is filled with water – from either small streams or subterranean sources.
• Examples of crater lake in Ethiopia


  Haik near Dessie and Hashenge near Korum
• A watershed lake is formed when a sheet of lava dams up a shallow surface depression
• Lake Tana was formed during the Quaternary Period, when a sheet of flowing lava dammed the shallow depression that had already been formed between the Gojjam and Gondar Massif.
• Rift Valley Lakes

  The Rift Valley lakes are formed in the depressions and basins caused by tectonic activities
• Significance of Ethiopian Lakes and Rivers

  I. Hydroelectric Power (H.E.P.) Generation

  II. Fishery

  III. Major Irrigation Schemes

  IV. Navigation (Baro is the only river used for water transportation)

  V. Tourism and Recreation