Lake Abijatta

Lake Abijatta

Lake Abijatta (right) and Lake Shala (left)
Coordinates 7°37′N 38°36′E / 7.617°N 38.600°E / 7.617; 38.600Coordinates: 7°37′N 38°36′E / 7.617°N 38.600°E / 7.617; 38.600
Basin countries Ethiopia
Max. length 17 km
Max. width 15 km
Surface area 205 km²
Max. depth 14 m
Surface elevation 1,573 m

Lake Abijatta is an alkaline lake in Ethiopia. It lies in the Main Ethiopian Rift valley south of Addis Ababa, in the Abijatta-Shalla National Park.

Overview

Flamingoes on Lake Abiyatta.

According to the Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia for 1967/68, the lake is 17 kilometers long and 15 km wide, with a surface area of 205 square kilometers. It has a maximum depth of 14 meters and is at an elevation of 1,573 meters.

Along the northeastern corner of this lake are a number of hot springs, which are important both as a tourist attraction and to the local inhabitants.

Additionally, there is a soda ash operation on the shores of this lake, which produces 20,000 tons of sodium carbonate. Proven reserves at Lake Abijata, as well as the neighboring Shala and Chitu lakes, exceed 460 million tons.[1] Flamingoes are also found at the lake.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Current Exploration and Mining, Geological Survey of Ethiopia Web Page (accessed 26 January 2009)
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