The
Great Rift Valley’s passage through Ethiopia is marked by a chain of seven
lakes. Each of the seven lakes has its own special life and character and provides
ideal habitats for the exuberant variety of flora and fauna that make the region
a beautiful and exotic destination for tourists. These lakes are Lake Zeway, Shala,
Abyata, Langano, Awassa, Chmao and Abaya. Most of the lakes are suitable and safe
for swimming and other water sports. Lakes Abiata and Shalla are ideal places
for bird watchers.
The northern most Lake is Lake Zeway on 160kms form Addis.
Southwards from here three further lakes Abyata, Shalla & Langano are clustered
closely together followed by Lake Awassa; much further south Lalke Abaya and Chamo.
Lake Langano has developed into an unsurpassed resort popular with weekend
visitors form the capital. There are good camping facilities and excellent hotels
and chalet bungalows situated along its bays, fronting sandy beaches perfect for
swimming, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing. Lake Shalla the deepest lake
of all lakes (260 meters deep) is the most important one for the breeding colony
of the Great White Pelicans. Lake Abaya is the largest and longest in length (72km)
provides well-stocked fishing grounds for these splendid birds and also excellent
feeding place of Flamingos. Farming people populates the shores and islands of
Abaya and Chamo. Lake Chamo forms one of Ethiopia's finest National Parks-Nech
Sar. In the reed fringed bays of Chamo’s sparkling aquamarine waters hundreds
of hippos emerge at night to graze on the grass shores. Lake Chamo is a sanctuary
for hippopotamus, several thousand crocodiles and fish species.
Gazing
on these lovely expanses of water body, one cannot help but speculate on the majesty
that must once have been theirs when the great rains poured down over Africa.
The Ethiopian Rift Valley and the Rift Valley Lakes
The Great Rift Valley stretches for over 9,600kms form Turkey
to Mozambique. In east Africa this crack has made a valley with a length of 6000
kms. The openings of the Great Rift Valley feature are recent phenomena even not
older than 20 million years. This is the last massive movement of the earth to
play significantly in shaping the landmass of the earth. Again this features,
the volcanoes, natural hot springs and strongly elongated lakes in the Great Rift
Valley are evidences in the earth’s crust that threaten eventually to split
Africa apart. This split east Africa in to two arms. The valley passes through
Ethiopia where its largest area lies. (It is about 2800kms long). In Ethiopia,
the northern end of the valley opens in to the famous Dankill Depression 116 meters
below sea level is one of the hottest places on the earth.
The volcanic
floor is with an average width of 50 km and its maximum width is 90 km. The blue
grey ridges of the volcanic basalt and granite either side, towering up to a height
of 4000 meters. This volcanic floor encompasses some of the world's last true
wildernesses.
The Rift Valley is also a site of numerous natural hot springs and the chemical contents of the hot springs are highly valued for their therapeutic purposes though at present they are not fully utilized. In short, the Rift Valley is endowed with many beautiful lakes, numerous hot springs, warm and pleasant climate and a variety of wildlife. It is considered as one of the most ideal areas for the development of international tourism in Ethiopia.
FISHING
Ethiopian lakes enable you relaxing sports for fishing. Nile perch, catfish, tilapia and tiger fish can be fished (caught in these lakes).