Baro River
Encyclopedia
The Baro River is a river in southwestern Ethiopia
, which defines part of Ethiopia's border with South Sudan
. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands
it flows west for 306 kilometres (190.1 mi) to join the Pibor River
. The Baro-Pibor confluence marks the beginning of the Sobat River
, a tributary of the White Nile
.
The Baro and its tributaries drain a watershed
41400 km² (15,984.6 sq mi) in size. The river's mean annual discharge
at its mouth is 241 m³/s (8,510 ft³/s).
and Gebba River
s, east of Metu
in the Illubabor Zone
of the Oromia Region
. It then flows west through the Gambela Region
to join with the Pibor River, both of them creating the Sobat. Other notable tributaries of the Baro include the Alwero and Jikawo River
s.
, Egypt
. In contrast, these rivers have very low flow during the dry season.
and Ethiopia was defined for the region near the Baro River in 1899 by Major H.H. Austin and Major Charles W. Gwynn of the British Royal Engineers
. They had no knowledge of the land, its inhabitants, or their languages, and were short on supplies. Rather than defining a line based on ethnic groups and traditional territories, essentially along the escarpment that separates the highlands and the plains, they simply proposed drawing the line down the middle of the Akobo River
and parts of the Pibor and Baro rivers. This boundary was consummated in the Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1902, resulting in an area in Ethiopian Gambela Region called the Baro Salient. This area is more closely connected to South Sudan than Ethiopia, both in terms of natural features and people. The Baro Salient was used as a sanctuary by Sudanese insurgents during the country's long civil wars
. It was difficult for Sudan to exert authority over a region that is part of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was reluctant to police this remote region and become involved in the politics of Sudan's internal conflicts.
Vittorio Bottego
, who explored the area in the later 1890s, proposed naming the river after Admiral Simone Arturo Saint-Bon
.
The only navigable river in Ethiopia, the Baro's most important city is Gambela
, which served as a port from 1907 until the 1990s when civil war in Ethiopia and Sudan forced shipping on the river to be halted.
The Italian L. Usoni unsuccessfully prospected for gold
in the Baro river valley, and published his findings in 1952.
The second-longest bridge in Ethiopia crosses the Baro, connecting two parts of the Gambela Region. This bridge is 305 meters long.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, which defines part of Ethiopia's border with South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea , and northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa...
it flows west for 306 kilometres (190.1 mi) to join the Pibor River
Pibor River
The Pibor River is a river in eastern South Sudan, which defines part of South Sudan's border with Ethiopia. From its source near Pibor Post it flows north for about , joining the Baro River to form the Sobat River, which is a tributary of the White Nile.The Pibor and its tributaries drain a...
. The Baro-Pibor confluence marks the beginning of the Sobat River
Sobat River
The Sobat River is a river in South Sudan, Africa. The most southerly of the great eastern tributaries of the Nile, the Sobat enters the White Nile at Doleib Hill, near the city of Malakal in the Upper Nile state of South Sudan...
, a tributary of the White Nile
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
.
The Baro and its tributaries drain a watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
41400 km² (15,984.6 sq mi) in size. The river's mean annual discharge
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
at its mouth is 241 m³/s (8,510 ft³/s).
Course
The Baro river is created by the confluence of the BirbirBirbir River
The Birbir River of southwestern Ethiopia is a tributary of the Baro River, which it creates when it joins the Gebba at latitude and longitude . It is politically important because its course defines part of the boundary between the Mirab Welega and Illubabor Zones of the Oromia Region.Richard...
and Gebba River
Gebba River
The Gebba is a river of southwestern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Baro River, which is created when the Gebba joins the Birbir at latitude and longitude ....
s, east of Metu
Metu
Metu is a market town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Illubabor Zone of the Oromia Region along the Sor River, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 1605 meters...
in the Illubabor Zone
Illubabor Zone
Illubabor is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Illubabor is named for the former province Illubabor. It is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Gambela Region, on the west by Misraq Welega, on the north by the...
of the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
. It then flows west through the Gambela Region
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
to join with the Pibor River, both of them creating the Sobat. Other notable tributaries of the Baro include the Alwero and Jikawo River
Jikawo River
Jikawo River is a river of southwestern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Baro River, which it joins at latitude and longitude .The river rises in Ethiopia, but in its lower course forms the border with South Sudan.- References :...
s.
Natural history
Of the Sobat River's tributaries, the Baro River is by far the largest, contributing 83% of the total water flowing into the Sobat. During the rainy season, between June and October, the Baro River alone contributes about 10% of the Nile's water at AswanAswan
Aswan , formerly spelled Assuan, is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the Aswan Governorate.It stands on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract and is a busy market and tourist centre...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In contrast, these rivers have very low flow during the dry season.
History
The boundary between SudanSudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Ethiopia was defined for the region near the Baro River in 1899 by Major H.H. Austin and Major Charles W. Gwynn of the British Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. They had no knowledge of the land, its inhabitants, or their languages, and were short on supplies. Rather than defining a line based on ethnic groups and traditional territories, essentially along the escarpment that separates the highlands and the plains, they simply proposed drawing the line down the middle of the Akobo River
Akobo River
The Akobo River is a river on the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands near Mizan Teferi is flows west for to join the Pibor River...
and parts of the Pibor and Baro rivers. This boundary was consummated in the Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1902, resulting in an area in Ethiopian Gambela Region called the Baro Salient. This area is more closely connected to South Sudan than Ethiopia, both in terms of natural features and people. The Baro Salient was used as a sanctuary by Sudanese insurgents during the country's long civil wars
Sudanese Civil War
The term Sudanese Civil War refers to at least two separate conflicts:*First Sudanese Civil War - 1955–1972*Second Sudanese Civil War - 1983–2005...
. It was difficult for Sudan to exert authority over a region that is part of Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was reluctant to police this remote region and become involved in the politics of Sudan's internal conflicts.
Vittorio Bottego
Vittorio Bottego
Vittorio Bottego was an Italian army officer and one of the first Western explorers of Jubaland in the Horn of Africa , where he led two expeditions. Bottego was born in Parma....
, who explored the area in the later 1890s, proposed naming the river after Admiral Simone Arturo Saint-Bon
Simone Arturo Saint-Bon
Simone Arturo Pecoret de Saint-Bon was an Italian admiral.Saint-Bon was born at Chambéry, now in France, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia....
.
The only navigable river in Ethiopia, the Baro's most important city is Gambela
Gambela, Ethiopia
Gambela is a city in Ethiopia and the capital of the Gambela Region or kilil. Located in Administrative Zone 1, at the confluence of the Baro River and its tributary the Jajjaba, the city has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 526 meters....
, which served as a port from 1907 until the 1990s when civil war in Ethiopia and Sudan forced shipping on the river to be halted.
The Italian L. Usoni unsuccessfully prospected for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in the Baro river valley, and published his findings in 1952.
The second-longest bridge in Ethiopia crosses the Baro, connecting two parts of the Gambela Region. This bridge is 305 meters long.