CHAPTER FOUR
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE OF
ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN
•Drainage: The flow of water through well-defined channel
•Tributaries: the rivers that flow into it
•Drainage basin: Topographic regions from which river & its
tributaries collect both the surface runoff and subsurface flow.
•Head water/source: Place where river begins
•Mouth: place where river ends
•Drainage system: is branched network of stream channels
together with the adjacent land slopes they drain.
It is made up of a principal river and its tributaries
•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.
29% of earth’s total surface covered by land mass
71% water bodies majority occupied by seas & oceans
97.5%---Alkaline accumulated in the sea & ocean
2.5%---Fresh water
68.7% Glaciers
30.1% Ground water/subsurface
0.8% Permafrost:
soil covered by ice around the poles
0.4% Surface water :
In lakes, rivers, atmosphere, soil, wet land
-The most abundant & easily available fresh water
- fresh water is distributed unevenly throughout the
world following varied latitudinal locations, climatic
and topographic setups.
The topographic setup of Ethiopia is characterized by
complex blend of massive highlands, rugged terrain, & low plains.
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. Although it requires further detailed
investigation, the country’s surface water potential as
studied in different integrated river basin master plans is
estimated to be 124.4 billion cubic meters (BCM).
Consequently, many call Ethiopia, the water tower of
“Eastern Africa”.
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 structure
4.2. Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
Ethiopia possesses three broadly classified drainage
systems namely
Western drainage system
[Link] [Link] [Link] [Link]/omo
Southeastern drainage system
1. Genale 2. Wabishebele
Rift Valley drainage Systems.
[Link]
Western and the Southeastern drainage systems are
separated by the Rift Valley system.
[Link] 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.
•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.
i)Abay river basin
•The largest river both in volumetric discharge and coverage in the western
drainage systems
•54.5BCM annual volume
•covers an area of 199,812 km2, covering parts of Amhara, Oromia and
Benishangul-Gumuz regional states
•. Together with its tributaries, most of which are left-bank tributaries; it carries
65 % 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 Abay within elevation ranging between 500 -
4261 meters above sea level. The largest of these is Ghilgel Abay (Little Abay).
•Abay flows eastward, turns 180degree to make a large bend and after cutting
an impressive and deep gorge emerges out in the west.
ii)Tekeze
•With its tributaries, carrying 12 % of the annual water flow of the
region drains 82,350 Km2 of land surface within elevation ranging
between 536-4517 masl.
• Erosion in the basin resulted in large tablelands, plateau blocks
and isolated mountain groups.
•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).
iii)Baro-Akobo
•Drains the wettest highlands in the south
•Carries 17 % of the annual water flow
•Area 75,912 km2, covering parts of the Benishangul-Gumuz,
Gambella, Oromia, & 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
iv) Ghibe / Omo
•Drains southwestern Ethiopia.
•Carries 6 % of the annual water flow .
•Drains an area of 79,000 km2 with an estimated mean annual
flow of 16.6 BMC.
•Finally empties in to the Chew-Bahir at the mouth of Lake
Turkana (an elongated Rift Valley lake) thereby forming an
inland drainage.
2. The Southeastern 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.
•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 River Basin
• A total catchment area of 202,697 km2,
• The largest river in terms catchment area.
• It drains parts of Oromia, Harari and the Somali regions.
• It is the longest river in Ethiopia.
• Its tributaries are mainly left bank and, most of them, are intermittent.
• 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.
[Link] Rift Valley Drainage System
•An area of small amount of rainfall, high evaporation and small
catchment area.
•The only major river basin is that of the Awash.
Awash river basin
•Catchment area of 114,123 km2 and has an average annual
discharge of 4.9 BCM
•Originates from Shewan plateau in central highlands of Ethiopia,
and flows 1250 kms.
• It covers parts of the Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa,
and Addis Ababa City Administration.
•The most utilized river in the country.
•Flows in a northeast direction. 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 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
which are not the result of any meaningful surface flow. Their
formation is related to tectonic activities.
•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. The lakes occupy fault depression.
• There are small streams that drain down from the nearby
mountain slopes which supply water to the lakes. 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
1. General Characteristics of Ethiopian Rivers
•Unlike many other African countries, Ethiopia is endowed
with many rivers.
•Majority of the rivers originate from highland areas
elevating more than 1500 meters above sea level
•Cross the Ethiopian boundary (They are trans boundary).
•Ethiopian rivers form 12 major watersheds separating the
Mediterranean Sea from the Indian Ocean drainage
systems.
4.3Water 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.
•Due to the marked seasonality of rainfall, Ethiopian rivers
are characterized by extreme seasonal fluctuation. In the wet
season, runoff is higher and rivers are full bursting their
banks, destroying small bridges, damage roads and flooding
low lands; during the dry seasons they became mere trickles
of water or even dry up,
•Due to surface ruggedness they have rapids and waterfalls
along their course,
• Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both international
and domestic administrative units.
[Link] Ethiopian Lakes
•Almost all Ethiopian lakes are result of tectonic process
•Except few Ethiopian lakes, majority of lakes are located
within the Rift Valley System.
•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.
•Man-made lakes such as Lakes
•Koka,
•Fincha
•Melka Wakena, and many other lakes dammed
following hydroelectric power generation projects
•Cluster of lakes are lined up within main Ethiopian rift.
•Lake Tana is the largest of all the lakes in the system.
•The southern tip of the Rift Valley forms the marshy
land called the Chew Bahir which is drained by Segan
and Woito.
•Shala and Ziway are the deepest and the shallowest
lakes in the central Ethiopian Rift
.
Lake Area Max. Lake Area Max.
(km square) Depth(m) (km squa) (Km square)
Tana 3600 9 Abijata 205 14
Abaya 1162 13.1 Awasa 129 10
Chamo 551 13 Ashenge 20 25
Zway 442 8.95 Hayk 5 23
Shala 409 266 Besenka 48.5 11
Koka 205 9
3. Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource of Ethiopia
•Climatic and geophysical conditions determine the
availability of groundwater resource.
•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
• 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
• The Grand Ethiopian renaissance damp is the largest dam
under construction aiming to generate 6400 megawatts
• 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, Fincha, Gibe/Omo, Tana Beles and
Tekeze, generating close to 4000 megawatts of energy.
• The seasonal flow fluctuations &severe erosion from the
highlands and sedimentation in the reservoirs is also a critical
problem for hydroelectric power generation.
b) Irrigation and Transportation
•The terrain in Ethiopia is so rugged that it limits the uses
of Ethiopian rivers both for irrigation and transportation.
•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.
•The Baro-Akobo and Genale Dawa river systems have
large irrigation potential compared to other basins.
•The Baro at its lower course is the only navigable river.
•Ethiopian lakes are much suitable for transportation than
rivers. Lake Tana and Abaya are relatively the most used for
transportation.
c) Fishing and Recreation
•Fishing
The majority of Ethiopian lakes are rich in fish.
Currently the annual production of fish is estimated to be 31.5
thousand tons.
•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.
•Recreation
There are a variety of fish, birds and other aquatic life
forms in the lakes. This and the scenic beauty of the lakes,
the hot springs around them, endemic wild life important
recreational and tourist attractions.
