The Great Rift Valley : the single largest geographical feature on the African continent
The African Rift, a 20 million year history
The Rift Valley stretches along a 4,000 km long fault line stretching from the Red Sea south toMozambique’s Zambezi Valley.
The Ethiopian portion of the Rift Valley runs forms the Red Sea to Lake Turkana on the Kenyan border. Innorthern Ethiopia, it forms the Danakil Depression, and inaccessible and inhospitable desert that dips to an altitude of 116m below sea level, one of the lowest points on the earth’s surface.
South of the Danakil Depression, due east of Addis Ababa, the Rift narrows around Awash National Park to bisect the Ethiopia as Eastern and Western Highlands.
The southern part of the Ethiopian Rift Valley is lower, warmer and drier than other densely populated parts of the country. Covered in acacia woodland and studded with lakes.
Rift Valley Lakes
The six main lakes of the Ethiopian Rift formed during the last lce Age, originally as two large lakes.
The Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes are the northernmost of the African Rift Valley lakes. In central Ethiopia the Great Rift Valley splits the Ethiopian highlands into northern and southern halves, and the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes occupy the floor of the rift valley between the two highlands. Most of the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes do not have an outlet, and most are alkaline.
Birds from Chamo lake
The largest of these lakes is Lake Abaya (1160 km², elevation 1285 m); other major lakes include Lake Chamo (551 km², 1235 m), Lake Awasa (129 km², elevation 1708 m), Lake Zway (485 km², elevation 1636 m), Lake Abijata (205 km², elevation 1573 m), and Lake Koka (250 km², elevation 1590 m)
The lakes cover the bottom of the Rift Valley stretching from Djibouti to Mozambique with a width of 50km. All the Lakes are full of fish like Tilapia and Nile Perch and thus attract many different bird species, making them a paradise for bird watchers.
Coming from Addis Abeba, you first pass Lake Koka and KokaDam which provides electricity for the capital.
After passing Lake Koka, the first Rift Valley Lake comes into view : Lake Ziway where you can observe many birds such as white pelican, saddle bill, yellow bill, storks and kingfishers. Hippo’s can also be seen.
Traveling further to the south there is an excellent opportunity to relax at the shores of Lake Langano.
This lake with its reddish brown water is free of Bilharzia, so it is safe to swim. There are several good hotels and lodges in a beautiful setting where you can relax on the sandy shores and where boats, pedal boats, fishing equipment and cycles can be hired.
It is an ideal base to make trips to the nearby Lakes Shala and Abiata.
Lake Abiata provides a stunning spectacle of untouched.
It hosts an extraordinary number of birds like wild duck, geese, cormorants, flamingos and great numbers of Great White Pelicans. These pelicans come only to Abiata to feed; they nest and sleep on islands in neighbouring Lake Shala.
These islands are home to the most important breeding colony of Great White Pelicans in Africa.
Lake Shala which is a crater lake has many bays fringed with wild fig, acacia and euphorbia, overlooking dark waters which are the deepest in Ethiopia, 200 meters or more. It breathes an untouched, mysterious beauty. In its surroundings several sulphurous springs bubble up.
There is not much wildlife around the lakes but the beautiful Grant’s gazelle and different species of monkeys can regularly be seen.
Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya
Standing out from the blue-coloured Lake Chamo, the red-copper-tinged Lake Abaya owes its particular hue to iron particles in suspension in water.
High on from the near city of Arbaminch is one of the most commanding panoramic views Ethiopia has to offer.
The ridge of land that separates the two lakes is called “Bridge of Heaven” by the local population.
Awassa town and lake
Fisherman in Rift Valley Lakes
Awassa is a thriving and attractive town. It has avenues lined up with tree, numerous shops and stores, including tea salons that serve outstanding fruit juices. The sunset and multitude of birds flying can be observed from the lakeside.
Awassa city and Awassa lake are a genuine haven of peace. Reed and marshes are found at the edges of the lake, itself surrounded by high hills.
Fishermen fish tilapia, Nile perch and catfish at night. At dawn, they all come together at the lakeside town market to sell their night catch.
Fishing is the main local industry and the fish market is something you mustn’t miss out.