Geo ppt @jimmauniversityquestion (2)
Geo ppt @jimmauniversityquestion (2)
3
1.1. Geography: Definition, Scope and Themes
1.1.1. Meaning of Geography
Difficult to forward a definition acceptable to all
geographers at all times and places due to:
• Dynamic nature of the discipline
• Changes in its scope and method of study
A. Human-physical continuum
B. Topical- regional continuum
Topical (systematic) fields of Geography
6
Regional geography
7
1.1.3. Themes of Geography
Geography has five basic themes
Location
Defined as a particular place or position
Can be of two types:
A. Absolute location
• The location of a place is defined by its latitude
and longitude (specific geographic
coordinates) or its exact address
B. Relative location
• The position of something relative to another
landmark 8
Place
The physical and human aspects of a location
Associated with:
• Toponym: name of a place
• Site: description of the features of the place
• Situation: environmental conditions of the place
Each place in the world has unique features that make
it different from the others expressed in terms of
• Landforms
• Hydrology
• Biogeography
• Pedology
• Characteristics and size of human population
• Distinct human cultures
Aids geographers to compare and contrast two places
on Earth
9
Human-Environment Interaction
Humans
10
Involves three distinct aspects:
A. Dependency
Ways in which humans are dependent on nature for
a living
B. Adaptation
How humans modify themselves, their lifestyles and
their behavior to live in a new environment with
new challenges
C. Modification
Allowed humans to “conquer” the world for their
comfortable living 11
Movement
The study of transport and relocation of human
ideas, culture, habits, language and many more to
the different parts of the world
Its aspects/dimension are the
earth to another
• Flow of ideas that allows:
o Unification of the human civilization
o Promotes its growth and prosperity 12
Region
A geographic area having distinctive
characteristics that distinguishes itself from
adjacent unit(s) of space
Portions of earth's surface that have uniform
characteristics
The places sharing common physical and human
features
Could be a formal region and functional region
13
A. Formal region
Characterized by homogeneity in terms of a certain
oNatural phenomenon: soil, temperature, rainfall
oCultural elements: language, religion and economy
• Transportation systems
• Communication systems
• Economic or functional associations
Example the circulation area of a newspaper
15
1.2. Location, Shape and Size of Ethiopia and
the Horn
Horn of Africa Countries
A region of eastern Africa, is a narrow tip that protrudes
into the northern Indian ocean, separating it from the gulf
of Aden
The easternmost extension of African land
The region that is home to the countries whose cultures
have been linked throughout their long history which
includes:
• Djibouti
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
16
• Somalia
Although they share many common features, there is
also great diversity among them
In terms of size from all the horn of African countries
• Red sea
• Gulf of Aden
• Indian ocean
• Arabian peninsula
• Southwestern Asia
18
1.2.1. Location of Ethiopia
The location of a country or a place on a map or a
globe is expressed in two different ways
1. Astronomical locations
Also known as absolute or mathematical location
States location of places using the lines of
• Latitudes
• Longitudes
19
Astronomically, Ethiopia is a landlocked country
located between:
• 3oN (Moyale) to 15oN (Bademe - the northernmost
tip of Tigray) latitudes
• 33oE (Akobo) to 48oE(the tip of Ogden in the east)
longitudes
• The east-west distance (15o) is longer than the
north-south distance (120)
20
The latitudinal and longitudinal extensions are
important in two ways
First
22
Table 1.1: The relative location of Ethiopia
A. Climate
• Ethiopia is located implies that the country has a
tropical climate, though modified by its altitude
• Ethiopia relative to the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic
Ocean and the African and Asian landmass has
also various bearings on the climate of Ethiopia
25
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,
which was the origin of these religions
• The linguistic and other cultural relationships,
which Ethiopia shares with its neighbors, reflect the
influence of location
26
C. Political
The political history of Ethiopia has been considerably
influenced by:
• Geopolitical considerations of superpowers
• Adjacency to the red sea (a major global trade
route)
• The middle east geopolitical paradigms
As a result, Ethiopia has been exposed for external
invasions in a number of times; though the country
resisted foreign intervention and remains free of
external domination 27
1.2.2. Size of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
32
There are various ways of measuring shape of countries
Indices of compactness
33
1. The ratio of area of country to its boundary length:
• Area-Boundary ratio
• The higher the A/B ratio, the greater the degree of
compactness
2.The ratio of boundary length of a country to the
circumference of a circle having the same area as
the country itself:
• Boundary-circumference ratio
• Measures how far the boundary of a country
approximates the circumference of a circle of its own
size.
• The nearer the ratio to 1 the more compact the country
is 34
3.The ratio of the area of the country to the
circumference of the smallest inscribing circle:
• Area-circumference ratio
• Compares the area of the country with the
circumference of a circle that passes touching the
extreme points on the boundary of the country
• The higher the A/C ratio, the greater the degree of
compactness
35
4. The ratio of the actual area of a country to the
smallest possible inscribing circle:
• Area-area (A/A’) ratio
• The area of the inscribing circle is the area of the
smallest possible circle whose circumference passes
through the extreme points on the boundary
• Half-length of the longest distance between two
extreme points gives radius of the inscribing circle
• The nearer the ratio to 1, the more compact the
country is.
36
Table 1.3: Ethiopia's shape compared to its neighbors in the Horn
37
1.3. Basic Skills of Map Reading
What is a Map
A two-dimensional scaled representation of part or
whole of the Earth surface on a flat body
Map reading encompasses a systematic identification
of natural features and manmade features
• Natural features: mountains, plateaus, hills,
valleys, river, ocean, rocks, plain etc.
• Manmade features: roads, railway, buildings, dam
etc.
38
A special significance for geographers as primary
tools for displaying and analyzing spatial
• Distributions
• Patterns
• Relations
Since these features cannot easily be observed and
interpreted in real landscapes, maps are essential to
geographers
39
Importance of maps
A. Topographical maps
• Depict one or more natural and cultural features of an
area
• Could be small, medium or large scale depending on the
size of the area represented
• Contents of topographical maps depend on
• Purpose of a map
• Scale of a map
• Date of compilation
• Nature of the land represented 41
B. Special purpose/statistical maps
Show distribution of different aspects such as
• Temperature
• Rainfall
• Settlement
• Vegetation etc.
42
Marginal Information on Maps (Elements of Maps)
A. Title
• Heading of the given map which tells what the map is
all about
B. Key (legend)
• List of all convectional symbols and signs shown on the
map with their interpretation 43
C. Scale
• Ratio between the distance on the map and the actual
ground distance
• Enable the map user to interpret the ground
measurement like road distance, areal sizes, gradient etc.
• Expressed as representative fraction, statements/verbal
scale, and linear (graphic) scale
D. North arrow
• Indicated with the north direction on a map
• Used to know the other important directions of the
mapped area like east, west, south, and west
44
E. Margin
• The frame of the map
• Important for showing the end of the mapped area
F. Date of compilation
• Date of map publication
• Enables map users to realize whether the map is
updated or outdated
45
1.3.1. Basic Principles of Map Reading
In developing map reading abilities and skills, certain
basic principles must be applied by the map-reader to
translate map symbols into landscape images
• Map readers must have ideas about the symbol
• Every map symbol must be visualized by the reader
• Symbols refer to landscape features and
knowledge of directions
46
Maps are covered in a series of lines that make up a
grid
The lines allow you to accurately pinpoint your
location on a map
Grid system
47
UNIT TWO
THE GEOLOGY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
(4hr)
48
2.1. Introduction
Geology
An Earth science that studies
52
Gondwanaland includes
• Africa
• South America
• India
• Antarctica
• Australia
54
Fossil correlation
55
Rock and mountain correlation
56
Palo climate data ( past climate data)
57
Example-1: In Amazon rainforest in equator of South
American countries and stick jungles of central Africa
• In the past these places were located closer to the
poles where colder climate that supports glacier,
but today, because of they are too close to equator
and getting sun light, the places are too intense and
hot
60
In Ethiopia
Ethiopia's land mass is result of the combined effect
both processes
Geological history of Ethiopia and the horn will be
dealt chronologically starting from the oldest era of
the earth's history to the recent
61
2.3. Geological Time Scale and Age Dating Techniques
62
Geological time scale
Describe the geology and history of life on earth
Divisions basically differ from each other in such
characteristics as
• Relative position of land and sea
• Kind of climate
• Kind of animal and plant life that
developed and existed
Difficult to measure precisely
Do not usually consist of a uniform length of time
Built largely on the basis of life and evolution
Measures time on a scale involving four main units
Division of time units is usually based on the
occurrence of significant geological events (example:
mass extinctions)
63
Eon
Eras
Periods
Epoch
A. Relative Dating
Uses geological evidence to assign comparative ages of
fossils
Use two ways to know the relative age of a rock
A. Carbon-14 Technique
Upon the organism's death, carbon-14 begins to
disintegrate at a known rate, and no further
replacement of carbon from atmospheric carbon
dioxide can take place
Carbon-14 has half-life of 5730 years 68
B. Potassium-Argon Technique
The decay is widely used for dating rocks
Geologists are able to date entire rock samples in
this way, because potassium-40 is abundant in
micas, feldspars, and hornblendes.
Leakage of argon is a problem if the rock has been
exposed to temperatures above 125° C (257° F),
because the age of the rock will then reflect the last
episode of heating rather than the time of original
rock formation
69
2.4. Geological Processes and the Resulting Landforms
of Ethiopia and the Horn
72
Precambrian rocks covering 25% of the land mass of
Ethiopia found in the following areas:
A. Northern part
• Western lowlands, parts of northern and central Tigray
B. Western part
• Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz (Metekel and Asossa),
western Gojjam, western Wellega, Illuababora, and Abay
gorge
C. Southern part
• Guji, southern Omo, and parts of southern Bale and Borena
D. Eastern part
• Eastern Hararghe
73
2.4.2. Paleozoic Era Geologic Processes
From 600 - 225 million years ago
Lasted for about 375 million years
Major geological process was denudation
Denudation: collective process of:
74
Gigantic mountains that were formed by the
precambrian orogeny were
• Subjected to intense and prolonged
denudation
• Reduced to a “pene-plained” surface
The sediments were transported
• Horn of Africa
• Arabian landmass
76
Land was tilted eastward and therefore
cretaceous period
In the country sedimentation ended with the
78
By the end of the Mesozoic Era, when the land emerged out of the
sea, three major sedimentary formations were laid and formed upon
the sea
The direction of the invading and retreating sea
79
Therefore,
Adigrat sandstone is
80
The transgressing sea and Mesozoic sediments nearly
covered the whole of Ethiopia
In most parts of Ethiopia, the Mesozoic rocks are
overlaid by the Cenozoic rocks
The old marine sediments are extensively found in the
Southeast lowlands
The Mesozoic sedimentary rocks cover 25% of the land
mass of the country
81
Figure 2.1. Geological map of Ethiopia
82
2.4.4. Cenozoic Era Geologic Processes
From 70 million years ago - present
The most recent of the geologic Eras
Major geological events were tectonic and volcanic
activities that making of the present-day landmass of
Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa
The land was subjected to three major geologic
events
These geologic activities are
• Uplifting of the Arabo-Ethiopian landmass and
outpouring of huge quantity of lava
• Formation of the Rift Valley
• Quaternary volcanism and deposition 83
A.Uplifting of the Arabo-Ethiopian landmass and
outpouring of lava flood
• A continuation of the slow rise that began in the
upper jurassic and cretaceous periods
• Uplifting continued to the paleocene and oligocene
epoch of the tertiary period
• Greatest uplift was in central Ethiopia (up to 2,000
m.a.s.l)
• Occurred during the eocene epoch
• Was of an epeirogenic character
• This immense tectonic force---fractured the crust…
Huge quantity of lava came out….widely and
extensively covered a large part of:
• Ethiopian plateau surface
• Floor of the present-day rift valley
84
The mass of lava formed many and huge volcanic
mountains‟ towering the flat basaltic plateau
This volcanic material is known as Trappean lava or
Trap Series lava that is
• Not dissected by erosion
• Makes the Ethiopian plateau had flat and nearly
horizontal
This is an expression of the
87
Major faulting movement
88
Great East African Rift
Extends from palestine-jordan in the north to
malawi-mozambique in the south
A distance of about 7,200 kilometers
5,600 kilometers is in Africa
1,700 kilometers in Eritrea and Ethiopia
Widest part of the Rift Valley is the Afar Triangle
(200-300 km)
89
Afar Triangle
Also called afar depression
Its northern part is Danakil depression…hottest
place in the world
Bordered by:
• Ethiopian plateau-west
• Red sea-North east
• Somalia plateau-South
90
The Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the East African
System meet and form the triangular depression of
the Afar
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
91
Rift Valley region of Ethiopian
• The most unstable part of the country
• Numerous hot springs, fumorales, active volcanoes,
geysers, and frequent earthquakes
• Formation of the rift valley has the following structural
(physiographic) effects:
• Divides the Ethiopian plateau into two
• Separates the Arabian landmass from African
landmass
• Causes the formation of the dead sea, red sea and
the gulf of Aden troughs
• Creates basins and fault depressions on which the
rift valley lakes are formed 92
C. Quaternary Volcanic Eruptions and Depositions
• Recent volcanic activities that took place after the
formation of the rift valley
• Occurred in the pliocene-pleistocene epochs
• A continuation of the tectonic and volcanic processes
• Renewed rifting/faulting and more volcanism
• Occurred in the floor of the rift valley and the region
south of lake Tana
• Aden volcanic and recent faulting are more
extensively developed in the afar region
• Aden volcanic have relatively well-preserved and visible
morphological features 93
The basic volcanic features of the Aden series
include:-
• Numerous and freshly preserved volcanic cones
• Example:
• Dubi
• Aftera
• Erta Ale--the most active volcano in Ethiopia
• Volcanic hills and mountains
• Fantale, Boseti-Gouda near Adama
• Aletu north of Lake Ziway
• Chebbi north of Lake Hawassa etc
• Extensive lava fields and lava sheets.
• Lava ridges
• Thermal springs, fumaroles etc
94
Quaternary Deposition
In quaternary period of the Cenozoic era
95
Pluvial rains---relatively high precipitation
96
After the “Pluvial Rains‟
Platinum
101
Gemstones
Marble
• Found in
• West of mekelle
• South of Adwa in Tigray 103
Clay
104
Construction stones
108
UNITE THREE
THE TOPOGRAPHY OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
(3hrs)
109
3.1. INTRODUCTION
110
Faulting elsewhere and on the floor guided part of the
course of some rivers
They also formed depressions on which lakes were
subsequently created
Geomorphic processes brought some modification to
the structural landform by river dissection and
roughening on the highlands, and deposition on the
lower areas
111
General Characteristics of the Ethiopian
Physiography
Ethiopian landform is characterized by great
diversity
There are
• Flat-topped plateaus
• High and rugged mountains
• Deep river gorges
• Vast plains
112
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
Ethiopia has the largest proportion of elevated
landmass in the African continent
It is sometimes described as the Roof of East Africa
because of its height and large area
113
More than 50% of the Ethiopian landmass is above 1,000
meters of elevation; and above 1,500 meters makes 44% of
the country
Half of this, in turn, is at more than 2,000 meters above sea
level
Most of the Ethiopian Highlands are part of central and
northern Ethiopia, and its northernmost portion extends into
Eritrea
The highland core, on the other hand, is encircled by semi-
arid and lowlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are rugged mass of mountains,
situated in the Horn of Africa 114
They are the most significant physical features of the
country, which form the largest continuous area of its
elevation in the continent
They have been dissected by several rivers and
ravines which have cut deep gorges
They have been divided into several regions and
mountain systems
Most of the country consists of high plateau and
mountain ranges that are sources of many rivers and
streams that made the country to be described as the
“Water Tower of East Africa” 115
The diversity in topography is accompanied by
differences in other natural features such as soil,
climate, vegetation and wild life
Likewise, the socio-cultural and economic phenomena
are also affected by the topography
Taking the 1,000 meters contour line for the
highland-lowland demarcation, one observes the
following contrasting features between the Ethiopian
highlands and lowlands 116
Characteristics of Ethiopian highlands
Moderate and high amount of rainfall (>600 mm
per year)
Lower mean annual temperature (<200C)
The climate is favorable for biotic life
Rain-fed agriculture is possible
Free from tropical diseases
Attractive for human habitation and densely settled
117
The cumulative effect of all this is that, the highlands
have been significant throughout Ethiopian history in
the economic, cultural and political life of the people
These highlands make up nearly 56% of the area of the
Ethiopia
This is further subdivided into
119
3.2. The Physiographic Divisions of Ethiopia
120
3.2.1. Western Highlands and Lowlands
All the area west of the Rift Valley
Subdivided into
121
1. The Western Highlands
A. Tigray Plateau
Extends tekeze gorge (S) to central Eritrean HLs
Separated from the Eritrean plateau by the mereb
river
Lies to the
122
Constitutes 13% of the area of the region
Highlands b/n 1,000-2,000 m.a.s.l
Features of:
• Granite hills
• Rugged topography
• Ambas: steep-sided, flat-topped mountain
surrounded by farmland
123
High mountains over 3000 meters:
124
Figure 3.1. Ethiopian Topography
125
B. North Central Massifs
Largest in the western HLs
Follows the Abay and Tekeze gorges
Plateau and tablelands are still capped by the
Trappean lava
Its central part accommodates:
126
• Consists of the Gonder, Wello and Gojjam Massifs
• Most popular mountains:
• Ras Dashen (4,620 m.a.s.l)
• Weynobar/Ancua (4462 m.a.s.l)
• KidisYared (4453 m.a.s.l)
• Bwahit (4437 m.a.s.l) in Simen Mountain System
• Guna (4,231 m.a.s.l) in the Debre Tabour Mountain System
• Abune Yoseph (4,260 m.a.s.l) in the Lasta highlands of
Wello
• Birhan (4,154 m.a.s.l) in the Choke Mountain System in
Gojjam
127
These mountains have:
• Steep cliffs
• Rugged terrain
Drained by:
131
2. Western Lowlands
Western foothills and border plains
Extend from Western Tigray in the N to southern
Gamo-Gofa in the S
Make 11% of the area of the physiographic region
Ranges between 500 and 1000 m.a.s.l
Subdivided into Four:
• Tekeze lowland
• Abay-Dinder lowland
• Baro lowland
• Ghibe lowland
• Except baro lowland, it characterized by arid or
semi-arid conditions 132
Economic activities:
• Pastoral or semi-pastoral-dominate
• Irrigation agriculture is highly feasible
• Mechanized agriculture
• Humera
• Metema
• Omedla
• Kurmuk
• Gambella
133
Ghibe/Omo lowland
• Includes:
• Lower ghibe/omo valley
• Northern section of the turkana basin
• Geographical, it is classified in the western
lowlands
• But Structurally, it also belongs to the rift valley
• Faulted and tectonically depressed area
134
3.2.2. Southeastern Highlands and Lowlands
Second largest physiographic region in terms of
area
Accounts for 37% of the area of Ethiopia:
• Highlands (46%)
• Lowland (54%)
Subdivided:
135
1. Southeastern Highlands
A. Arsi-Bale-Sidama Highlands
Found to the east of the Lakes Region
Located in the south western section
Make up:
137
Sof Omar cave
138
Bale highlands
Separated from the Arsi highlands by the head and main
stream of Wabishebelle
Consist of:
• Gorges
• Hanging valleys
• Depressions
Important grains producing areas with still high
potential
140
Sidama Highlands
Separated from the Bale Highlands by the Ghenale
river valley
Occupy the southwestern corner of this region
Prominent feature: Jemjem plateau
Important coffee growing area
141
B. Hararghe Plateau
A north-easterly extension of the south-eastern HLs
Extends from: Chercher highlands in SW
to
Jigjiga in East
Makes up:
143
• Include the plains of:
• Ogaden
• Elkere
• Borena
• Interrupted by:
• Low hills
• Low ridges
• Inselbergs: small mountain
• Shallow river valleys
• Broad river valleys
144
• Depressions
Due to harsh climatic conditions:
• Little used
• Support very small population
• Sparsely inhabited
• Pastoral and semi-pastoral
communities
The economic potential:
• Animal husbandry
• Irrigation
• Agriculture
• Exploitation of petroleum and natural
gas
145
3.2.3. Rift Valley
A tectonically formed structural depression
Bounded by two major and more or less parallel
escarpments
Separated the Ethiopian Highlands and Lowlands in to two
• Extends from: Afar triangle in N
to
Chew Bahir in S
About 1,700 km2
Covers 18% of the area of Ethiopia
Elongated and funnel shaped, with a NE-SW orientation
Opens out:
• Afar Triangle, the widest
• Narrows down to the south
146
Its climate varies from warm, hot and dry to cool and
moderately moist conditions due to:
• Altitudinal variation
• Positional differences
• Afar triangle
• Main Ethiopian rift
• Chew bahir rift 147
Floor of Rift Valley
Made up of interconnected:
• Troughs: elongated& low pressure
region
• Grabens: valley with distinct
escarpment
• Depressions: sunken landform
Covered by:
• Volcanic rocks
• fluvial deposits
• lacustrine deposits
Altitude ranges from:
• 125 m.b.s.l at Dallol Depression
• 2,000 m.a.s.l in the Lakes region
148
A. Afar Triangle
The largest and widest part of the rift valley
Makes up 54% of the rift valley area
Bounded by:
• High western escarpments in W
• Eastern escarpments in the E
• Afar and Aisha Horst in the NE
Generally of low altitude (300-700 m)
Quite different is the morphology of the Afar
depression, triangular-shape lowland
Elevation drops uniformly from SW to N
In E, the shores of Lake Asal, fluctuating 125 m.b.s.l,
represent the lowest sub aerial point of the African
continent
149
Characterized by:
• Faulted depressions (grabens)
• Volcanic hills
• Active volcanoes
• Volcanic ridges
• Lava fields
• Low lava platforms
• Lakes (abe, asale, and afrera)
Generally hot and dry
Economic importance:
• Salt extraction
• Irrigation along the Awash River
• Electric potential from geothermal energy
• A prominent feature: Danakil Depression (Kobar
Sink)
150
Danakil Depression (Kobar Sink)
• The most hostile environments on Earth
• Max. temp. can exceed 50°C during the summer
wet season
• Located in Dallol, at the northern tip of Afar
• Separated from the red Sea by a 200 meters high
land barrier much of it lies below sea level
• Its larger part covered by thick and extensive salt
plain
• Lake Asale and Afrera occupy the lowest parts of
151
this sunken depression
B. Main Ethiopian Rift/Central Rift
• Narrow belt of the RV that extends from: Awash River in the
N
to
Lake Chamo
in the S
• Bounded by the western and eastern escarpments
• Except of the Arbaminch area, escarpments are generally
low
• The narrowest and the highest
• Average width of 50-80 kilometers
• General elevation of 1,000-2,000 m.a.s.l
• The floor is dotted by:
• Cinder cones
• Volcanic mountains
• The big ones:
• Mount Fentale
• Boseti-guda (near Adama)
• Aletu (north of Lake Ziway) 152
153
III. Chew Bahir Rift
The smallest and the southern-most part of the rift
valley
Separated from main Ethiopian rift by
Gneissic(metamorphic type of rock) highlands of
Konso
Characterized by:
• Broad and shallow depression
• Marshy area covered by tall grass
• Segen and woito streams empty
154
3.3. The Impacts of Relief on Biophysical and
Socioeconomic Conditions
156
3. Transportation and communication
Highly dissected nature
• Steep cliffs
157
4. Hydroelectric power potential
Difference in altitude and high rainfall created very
high potential for the production of hydroelectric
power in Ethiopia
158
5. Socio-cultural feeling
Rugged terrain
159
6. Impacts on climate
Climate of Ethiopia is a result of:
• Tropical position
• Great altitudinal variation
Highlands moisture surplus
Lowlands moisture deficit
160
7. Impacts on soil
Steep mountain slopes provide:
161
CHAPTER FOUR
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER
RESOURCE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
(4hrs)
162
4.1. INTRODUCTION
Water bodies
Covered 71% of the earth's total surface
its tributaries
A river system begins: source (headwater)
A river system ends: mouth
165
Drainage system
Branched network of stream channels together with
the adjacent land slopes they drain
It is the outcome of:
• Geological processes
• Nature and structure of rock
• Topography
• Slope
• Amount and the periodicity of the flow
166
Drainage basin
Topographic region from which a river and its
tributaries collect
Both the surface runoff and subsurface flow
Separated from and bounded by water/topographic
divide
Determined by:
• Topography
• Structural formation of the rift valley
• Faults and joints
167
Major Drainage Systems
Three broadly classification:
Western
Southeastern
Rift Valley
Western and the Southeastern drainage systems
are separated by the Rift Valley system
168
4.2.1. Western Drainage Systems
Largest of all drainage systems: Draining 40 % of the total
area
Carry 60 % of the
annual water flow
• Tekeze
• Baro-Akobo
coverage western
drainage systems
Covers an area of 199,812 km2
Oromia
Benishangul-Gumuz
170
Carries 65% of the annual water flow of the region
171
Tekeze river basin
Plateau blocks
175
Ghenale River basin
SNNPR
somali
Has fewer tributaries but carries more water than
Wabishebelle
Reaches the Indian Ocean
178
4.2.3. Rift Valley Drainage System
Area of: small amount of rainfall
high evaporation
179
Awash river basin
Catchment area of 114,123 km2
Average annual discharge of 4.9 BCM
Originates from Shewan plateau in central highlands of
Ethiopia
Covers parts of: Amhara
Oromia
Afar
Somali
Dire Dawa
Addis Ababa City
The most utilized river in the country
Flows in a northeast direction
Finally ends in a maze of small lakes and marshy area
The largest lake is Lake Abe on the Ethio-Djibouti
180
Afar drainage sub-basin
181
Rift Valley sub-basin
Small streams
Also described as lakes region
183
184
General Characteristics of Ethiopian Rivers
Due to:
• Highland nature of landmass
• Surface ruggedness Et’n rivers have the following
characterized as:
• Inclination of the highlands
• Climatic conditions
• Originate from the highlands
• Trans-boundary
• Extreme seasonal fluctuation
• wet season, runoff is higher and rivers are full bursting
• dry seasons they became mere trickles of water or even dry up
• Rapids and waterfalls along their course
• Flow on steep slopes having steep profiles
185
4.3.2. Ethiopian Lakes
Relatively Ethiopia is rich in lakes
186
Lake Tana
187
Crater lakes
Top of Mount
Zikwala
Lake Ashenge (Tigray) is formed on a tectonic basin
188
Man-made lakes such as: Koka
Fincha
Melka Wakena
Cluster of lakes are lined up within main Ethiopian rift
190
Table 4.2: Area and depth of some of Ethiopian
Lakes
191
4.3.3. Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource of
Ethiopia
Lower ground water potential
Geophysical conditions
Estimated to be 2.6 - 6.5 BMC
192
4.4. Water Resources Potentials and
Development in Ethiopia
Underutilized due to so many factors
193
1.Hydro-electric Potential
Very high potential for generating electricity
Estimated at about 45000 MW
The first HEP: Akaki River (Aba Samuel) in 1932
Currently, many others are under construction
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the
country's largest dam under construction aiming to
generate 6400 MW
Gilgel Gibe III hydropower project has gone
operational generating 1870 MW
194
Currently Ethiopia is administering 14 hydroelectric
power plants constructed on different lakes
Major problem to the use of Ethiopian rivers for HEP:
195
2. Irrigation and Transportation
Rugged terrain limits the uses of rivers both for
irrigation and transportation
In the highlands: steep slopes
rapids
waterfalls are important
obstacles
narrow valleys
deep valleys
gorges
But on the lowlands, their demand for irrigation is
high
196
Baro-Akobo and Genale Dawa: large irrigation potential
197
3. Fishing and Recreation
Lakes are rich in fish
Estimated to be 31.5 thousand tons
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
More than 60% of fish supplies are coming from
Ethiopian main rift valley lakes
198
However, some of the lakes are currently threatened
by
• Sedimentation
• Invasive species (water hyacinth)
• Over exploitation
• Expansion of investments around lakes