Lake Abijatta
Encyclopedia
Lake Abijata lies in Ethiopia
south of Addis Ababa
, in the Abijatta-Shalla National Park
. 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.
There is also a soda ash operation on the shores of this lake, which produces 20,000 tons of sodium carbonate
. Proven reserves at Lake Abijata, and the neighboring Shala
and Chitu lakes exceed 460 million tons.
Flamingoes are also found at the lake.
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...
south of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, in the Abijatta-Shalla National Park
Abijatta-Shalla National Park
Abijatta-Shalla National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Oromia Region 200 kilometers south of Addis Ababa to the east of the Ziway - Shashamane highway, it contains 887 square kilometers including the Rift Valley lakes of Abijatta and Shalla. The two lakes are...
. According to the Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia for 1967/68, the lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
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.
There is also a soda ash operation on the shores of this lake, which produces 20,000 tons of sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
. Proven reserves at Lake Abijata, and the neighboring Shala
Lake Shala
Lake Shala lies in Ethiopia south of Addis Ababa, in the Abijatta-Shalla National Park. The lake is 28 kilometers long and 12 wide, with a surface area of 329 square kilometers. It has a maximum depth of 266 meters and is at an elevation of 1,558 meters...
and Chitu lakes exceed 460 million tons.
Flamingoes are also found at the lake.