Haramaya University

School of Geography and Environmental Studies

Geography of Ethiopia and the Horn Module

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE

OF ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN

January, 2020 GC.

 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.
 However, fresh water is distributed unevenly throughout the world following varied
latitudinal locations, climatic and topographic setups
 The diverse topographical setup, relatively higher rainfall and its nearness to equator
made the country to have larger volume of ground and surface water.
 Around 0.7 % of the total land mass of Ethiopia is covered by water bodies.
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 and its tributaries (the rivers that
flow into it).
 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
 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, Southeastern and Rift Valley Drainage
i. 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.
 This drainage system comprises four major river basins namely the Tekeze,
Abay, Baro-Akobo, Ghibe (Omo).
 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
CONT…
 Abay river basin covers an area of 199,812 km2, covering parts of Amhara, Oromia
and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states.
 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
 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.
 The basin has two main tributaries (Angereb and Goang) which rises in the central
highlands of Ethiopia.
 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 southwestern Ethiopia.
 They carry 17 percent and 6 percent of the annual water flow respectively.
CONT...
 The Ghibe/ Omo river basin drains an area of 79,000 km2 with an estimated mean
annual flow of 16.6 BMC.
 Baro Akobo river basin has an area of 75,912 km2, covering parts of the
BenishangulGumuz, 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.
ii. 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.
 CONT...
 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 Ocean.
 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. And longest river in Ethiopia.
 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 Basins of Ethiopia
iii. 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.
 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.
CON..
 It covers parts of the Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Somali,
Dire Dawa, and Addis Ababa City Administration.
 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 Southern part of the Rift Valley sub-basin is
characterized by a number of lakes and small streams.
 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

The Ethiopian Rivers

 Majority of the rivers originate from highland areas and cross the Ethiopian boundary.
 Altogether, Ethiopian rivers form 12 major watersheds separating the Mediterranean Sea
from the Indian Ocean drainage systems.
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,
 Due to the marked seasonality of rainfall, Ethiopian rivers are characterized by extreme
seasonal fluctuation.
 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
THE ETHIOPIAN LAKES
 Almost all Ethiopian lakes are result of tectonic process that took place during
Quaternary period of Cenozoic era.
 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.
 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.
CON…
 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.
 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 ChewBahirwhich is drained by Segan and Woito.
 Shala and Ziway are the shallowest and the deepest lakes in
the central Ethiopian Rift
 CONT..
Table 4.2: Area and depth of some of Ethiopian Lakes
Area Area
Lake Max. Depth(m) Lake Max. Depth(m)
(km2) (km2)
Tana 3600 9 Abijata 205 14
Abaya 1162 13.1 Awassa 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

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
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.
 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.
CON…

 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, Melka Wakena, Sor, Fincha, Gibe/Omo, Tana Beles
and Tekeze, generating close to 4000 megawatts of energy.
 The major problem related to the use of Ethiopian rivers for
the generation of hydroelectric power is the seasonal flow
fluctuations and impact of climate change and variabilities.
 The sever erosion from the highlands and sedimentation in the
reservoirs is also a critical problem for hydroelectric power
generation.
CONT…

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.
CON..
 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.
 Comparatively, Ethiopian lakes are much suitable for transportation
than rivers.
 Lake Tana and Abaya are relatively the most used for
transportation.
CONT…

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. .
 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.
 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