Geography of Ethiopia and

the Horn
(GeES 1011)
UNIT 4 – Drainage Systems and Water Resource of
Ethiopia and the horn
4.1. Introduction
 Globally water bodies occupy about nearly ¾ (71%) of the earth’s
surface, mainly oceans and seas . Of which,
 nearly 97.5% is alkaline (found in oceans and seas);
 only about 2.5% is fresh water, out of which
 nearly 68.7% is deposited in glaciers/ice mass/,
 30.1% in ground water,
 0.8% in permafrost/permanently frozen land- of polar areas/
and
 0.4% in surface waters. (eg. Lakes, rivers, atmosphere, soil and
wetlands)
 The most abundant and easily available fresh waters are:
 surface water and

 ground water.

 Freshwater is unevenly distributed throughout the world.

 Cont’d
 Around 0.7 % of Ethiopia’s land mass is covered by
water bodies.
 The country has larger volume of surface and
ground water.
 This is mainly owing to:
 The diverse topographical setup;
 Relatively higher rainfall;
 Ethiopia’s surface water potential (eg. Lakes, rivers,
atmosphere, soil and wetlands) is estimated to be 124.4 billion
cubic meters (BCM).
 Hence, Ethiopia is referred to be “the water tower of
Eastern Africa”.
Cont’d
4.2. Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
Concepts:
Drainage is conceptualized as the flow of water
through well-defined channel.
A drainage system consist of the channels through
which a principal river and its tributaries flow.
So, it is branched network of stream channels together
with the adjacent land slopes they drain.
A drainage basin is the topographic region from
which a river & 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.
Cont’d
 The drainage pattern of an area is the result of:
the geological processes /faulting, folding/,
nature and structure of rocks /rough or smooth/,

topography /rugged or plain/,

Slope /steep or gentle/,

amount and the periodicity of the flow

 In Ethiopia topographical structures highly determine

the general patterns of major river basins.
 The outward sloping of the Western and South eastern
plateaus result in:
Western and Southeastern drainage systems

 The inward sloping escarpments of the Rift Valley result in:

Rift Valley drainage system
Drainage Basins of Ethiopia
Cont’d
The Major Drainage Systems
4.2.1. The Western Drainage Systems
 Are the largest of all drainage systems;
 Account for:
 40% of Ethiopia’s landmass, and
 60% of the annual water flow of Ethiopia.
 Most of the catchment extends to the westward sloping
part of the western highlands and lowlands.
 Consist of the basins of Rivers Tekeze, Abay, Baro-
Akobo, Ghibe (Omo)
 The Ghibe (Omo) flows southward to join Lake Turkana
(an elongated Rift Valley Lake);
 Others (Tekeze, Abay & Baro-Akobo) flow westward to
join white Nile and finally ends at Mediterranean sea.
Cont’d
Cont’d
Cont’d
Cont’d
Cont’d
Cont’d
Cont’d
 Lakes region:
 Is the southern part of the Rift Valley sub-basin;

 Characterized by many lakes which occupy the fault

depression;
 There are also small streams/rivers/ that drain from the
nearby mountain slopes and supply water to the lakes;
 Meki and Katar Rivers flow into Ziway;
 Bilate flow into Abaya; and
 Segen flow into Chew Bahir
 Lakes Ziway, Langano and Abijiata are hydrologically
interconnected via Bulbula and Horacolo rivers.
Cont’d
4.3. Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and Sub-surface
Water
4.3.1. Ethiopian Rivers
Ethiopia is endowed with many rivers.
Majority of them originate from highland areas and
cross the Ethiopian boundary.
Ethiopian rivers form 12 major watersheds.
Major Ethiopian rivers are:
Cont’d
General Characteristics of Ethiopian Rivers
The characteristics of Ethiopian rivers is influenced by:
 the highland nature of the Ethiopian landmass,
 surface ruggedness,
 the outward inclination of the highlands, and
 the climatic conditions (eg. Rainfall seasonality)

Overall Ethiopian rivers have the following

characteristics:
o Almost all major rivers originate from the highlands
elevating more than 1500 m.a.s.l. ,
o Majority of Ethiopian rivers are trans-boundary,
o Due to surface ruggedness they have rapids and
waterfalls along their course,
o They have cuts, steep-sided river valleys and deep
Cont’d

o Due to the marked seasonality of rainfall, Ethiopian

rivers are characterized by extreme seasonal
fluctuation.
 In the wet season, there is higher runoff and rivers

get full bursting their banks, destroying small

bridges, damage roads and flooding low lands;
 during the dry seasons they became mere
trickles/scarce/of water or even some of them dry up,

o They flow on steep slopes having steep profiles;

o Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both

international and domestic administrative units.
 Cont’d
4.3.2. Ethiopian Lakes
Ethiopia is rich in lakes compared to other countries.
Almost all Ethiopian lakes are result of tectonic process that
took place during Quaternary period of Cenozoic era.
Majority of lakes are located within the Rift Valley System and
are mainly formed on faulted depressions; clustered and lined
up.
The largest lake in Ethiopia is Lake Tana, which is a highland
lake.
The lake is believed to have been formed following slower
sinking and reservoir by lava flow b/n Gojjam and Gonder
massifs.
Lake Ashenge (Tigray) is also formed on a tectonic basin.
In Ethiopia there are also many crater lakes such as:
 Lakes at and around Bishoftu, Wonchi (near Ambo), Hayk (near
Dessie) and lake on mount Zikwala.
Man-made lakes include Lakes Koka, Fincha and Melka Wakena.
 Cont’d
 The southern tip of the Rift Valley forms the marshy
land called the Chew Bahir which is drained by
Segan and Woito Rivers.
 From the lakes in the central Ethiopian rift:
 the largest is Lake Abaya;
 the deepest is Lake Shala, and
 the shallowest is Lake Ziway
Area and depth of some of Ethiopian Lakes
Cont’d
4.3.3. Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource of
Ethiopia
Ethiopia has lower potential of ground water; compared
to surface water resources.
But there is higher total exploitable groundwater
potential.
The availability of groundwater is determined by:
 climate and
 geophysical conditions.
The groundwater potential of Ethiopia was estimated to
be 2.6 - 6.5 BMC.
However, this estimate is now considered underestimated.
Based on various studies, Ethiopia’s potential of
groundwater is believed to range between 12-30 BMC.
 Cont’d
4.4. Water Resources Potentials and Development in Ethiopia
 Overall, Ethiopia’s water resource potential is
underutilized due to many factors.
 However, there are ample opportunities to transform
Ethiopia’s water resources into different development
uses including:

a)Hydro-electric Potential
 Electricity generation potential of Ethiopia’s rivers is
very high.
 The estimated exploitable potential of hydroelectric
power is about 45,000 megawatts.
 The first hydroelectric power generation plant was
installed on Akaki River (Aba Samuel) in 1932.
 Cont’d
 Currently Ethiopia is administering 14 hydroelectric
power plants, generating close to 4000 megawatts of
energy.
 These plants are constructed on Lake Aba Samuel, Koka,
Tis Abay, Awash, Melka Wakena, Sor, Fincha, Gibe/Omo,
Tana Beles and Tekeze.
 Gilgel Gibe III hydropower project has gone operational
generating 1870 megawatts.
 Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is Ethiopia’s
largest dam under construction aiming to generate 6400
megawatts.
Majority of hydro-electric reservoirs are multi-purpose.
 The major problem related to the use of Ethiopian
rivers for generation of hydroelectric power are:
 the seasonal flow fluctuations (impact of climate change and
variability);
 Cont’d
b) Irrigation and Transportation
 The uses of Ethiopian rivers for both irrigation and
transportation is hindered by the rugged topography.
 For example, in highland areas steep slopes, rapids,
waterfalls, narrow and deep valleys and gorges are major
obstacles for transportation.
 However, in lowland areas Ethiopia’s river have high demand
for irrigation.
 Ethiopia’s potential of irrigation is estimated to be
5.3 million hectares.
 Compared to other basins, the Baro-Akobo and Genale
Dawa river systems have large irrigation potential.
 Of the total irrigated area of Ethiopia more than 60% is located in
Rift Valley Drainage System.
 Cont’d
 Majorityof Ethiopian rivers are not suitable for
transportation.
 The only navigable river is Baro at its lower course.
 Ethiopian lakes are much suitable for transportation
than rivers.
 Lake Tana and Lake Abaya are relatively the most used
for transportation.
c)Fishing and Recreation
 The majority of Ethiopian lakes are rich in fish.
 The annual fish production is estimated to be 31.5
thousand tons.
 However, the exploitable potential is by far greater
than the current production.
 Cont’d
 Exploitable fish potential varies from lake to lake.

 Lake Tana has the highest potential, estimated 8,000- 10,000 tones/year.
 Lake Chamo’s potential is estimated at 4,500 tons per year.
 More than 60% of fish supplies are coming from
Ethiopian main Rift Valley lakes.
 However, most of the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes face
threats.
 Threats to Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes include:
 Sedimentation,
 Invasive species (eg. Water hyacinth),
 Over exploitation
 Expansion of investments around lakes (eg. Flower farm around Lake Ziway).
 Cont’d
 Most of Ethiopian rivers and lakes are important
recreational areas and tourist attractions because
of:
 The variety of fish, birds and other aquatic life forms in
the lakes;
 The scenic beauty of the lakes,
 The hot springs around them,
 The spectacular river gorges and the most impressive
waterfalls.
 Most of them are also the natural habitat of a variety
of wild life, some of which are only endemic to
Ethiopia.
 Hence,
their value for scientific purposes is
immense.