Tekezé River
Encyclopedia
The Tekezé River, also known as the Takkaze River, is a major river of Ethiopia
, and forms a section the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea
for part of its course. The river is also known as the Setit in Eritrea, western Ethiopia, and eastern Sudan
. According to materials published by the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency
, the Tekezé River is 608 kilometres (377.8 mi) long. The canyon
which it has created is the deepest in Africa and one of the deepest in the world, at some points having a depth of over 2000 meters (6,562 feet).
near Mount Qachen within Lasta
, from where it flows west, north, then west again, forming the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea from the confluence of the Tomsa with the Tekezé at 14°11′N 37°31.7′E to the tripoint between the two countries and Sudan at 14°15.4′N 36°33.6′E. After entering northeastern Sudan, at 14°10′N 36°0′E the Tekezé joins the Atbarah River
, the lower course of which is a tributary
of the Nile. The Tekezé is perhaps the true upper course of the Atbarah, as the former follows the longer course prior to the confluence
of the two rivers.
The names of its main tributaries in Ethiopia from its source are: on the right bank Tahali, Meri, Tellare, Sullo, Arekwa, Gheoa, Wari
, Firafira, Tocoro and Gumalo Rivers; on the left bank Nili, Balagas
, Saha, Bembea, Ataba
, Zarima
, and Kwalema Rivers.
of king Ezana of Axum
, where he boasts of a victory in a battle on its lower banks, near "the ford of Kemalke". The Tekezé served as an early link between Ethiopia and Egypt; for example, the Kebra Nagast
, which received its current form in the 13th century, states that king Menelik I
returned to Ethiopia by following this river from Egypt (ch. 53). Augustus B. Wylde records a related tradition that near the source of the Tekezé, at the location of Eyela Kudus Michael church, is the true resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant
.
In February and March 1936, during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
, thousands of Ethiopian troops were killed when the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica
) attacked them with bombs and mustard gas as they retreated across the Tekezé.
The Tekeze Hydro Electric project aims to construct the Highest double curve arch dam in Africa, topping the current highest, Lesotho. The contractors behind the project are CWGS and completion is scheduled to occur in 2009.
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...
, and forms a section the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
for part of its course. The river is also known as the Setit in Eritrea, western Ethiopia, and eastern Sudan
Sudan
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...
. According to materials published by the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency
Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
, the Tekezé River is 608 kilometres (377.8 mi) long. The canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
which it has created is the deepest in Africa and one of the deepest in the world, at some points having a depth of over 2000 meters (6,562 feet).
Course
The Tekezé River rises in the central Ethiopian HighlandsEthiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea , and northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa...
near Mount Qachen within Lasta
Lasta
Lasta is a historic district in north-central Ethiopia. It is the district in which Lalibela is situated, the former capital of Ethiopia during the Zagwe dynasty and home to 11 medieval rock-hewn churches....
, from where it flows west, north, then west again, forming the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea from the confluence of the Tomsa with the Tekezé at 14°11′N 37°31.7′E to the tripoint between the two countries and Sudan at 14°15.4′N 36°33.6′E. After entering northeastern Sudan, at 14°10′N 36°0′E the Tekezé joins the Atbarah River
Atbarah River
The Atbarah River in northeast Africa rises in northwest Ethiopia, approximately 50 km north of Lake Tana and 30 km west of Gondar. It flows about 805 km to the Nile in north-central Sudan, joining it at the city of Atbarah...
, the lower course of which is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Nile. The Tekezé is perhaps the true upper course of the Atbarah, as the former follows the longer course prior to the confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of the two rivers.
The names of its main tributaries in Ethiopia from its source are: on the right bank Tahali, Meri, Tellare, Sullo, Arekwa, Gheoa, Wari
Wari River
Wari River is a river of northern Ethiopia and a tributary of the Tekezé River. It rises in the Gar'alta and flows to the southwest into the Tekezé at . Tributaries of the Wari include the Assam, Chemit, Meseuma, and Tsedia rivers...
, Firafira, Tocoro and Gumalo Rivers; on the left bank Nili, Balagas
Balagas River
Balagas River is a river of northern Ethiopia. A tributary of the Tekezé, its own tributaries include the Balessa and Dorana rivers....
, Saha, Bembea, Ataba
Ataba River
Ataba River is a river of northern Ethiopia and a tributary of the Tekezé River....
, Zarima
Zarima River
Zarima River is a tributary of the Tekezé River. The Wolkayite Irrigation Project is based on a tributary of the Zarima River known as Dukoko River. http://www.ictonline.com/water-ethiopia5.html...
, and Kwalema Rivers.
History
The earliest known mention of the Tekezé is in an inscription from AxumAxum
Axum or Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Population 56,500 . Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from ca. 400 BC into the 10th century...
of king Ezana of Axum
Ezana of Axum
Ezana of Axum , was ruler of the Axumite Kingdom located in present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, he himself employed the style "king of Saba and Salhen, Himyar and Dhu-Raydan"...
, where he boasts of a victory in a battle on its lower banks, near "the ford of Kemalke". The Tekezé served as an early link between Ethiopia and Egypt; for example, the Kebra Nagast
Kebra Nagast
The Kebra Nagast , or the Book of the Glory of Kings, is an account written in Ge'ez of the origins of the Solomonic line of the Emperors of Ethiopia. The text, in its existing form, is at least seven hundred years old, and is considered by many Ethiopian Christians and Rastafarians to be an...
, which received its current form in the 13th century, states that king Menelik I
Menelik I
Menelik I , first Jewish Emperor of Ethiopia, is traditionally believed to be the son of King Solomon of ancient Israel and Makeda, ancient Ethiopia Queen of Sheba. He ruled around 950 BC, according to traditional sources...
returned to Ethiopia by following this river from Egypt (ch. 53). Augustus B. Wylde records a related tradition that near the source of the Tekezé, at the location of Eyela Kudus Michael church, is the true resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant
Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant , also known as the Ark of the Testimony, is a chest described in Book of Exodus as solely containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed...
.
In February and March 1936, during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
, thousands of Ethiopian troops were killed when the Italian Royal Air Force (Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
) attacked them with bombs and mustard gas as they retreated across the Tekezé.
Tekezé Dam
The Ethiopian government announced in July, 2002, that they had formed a partnership with the China National Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Corporation to construct a hydroelectric dam on the Tekezé, which would generate 300 megawatts of electricity. The project would cost US$ 224 million, and take five years to complete. Oweys Ibrahim, the project coordinator, announced 12 December 2007 that construction was 82% complete, and included a 105-kilometer power line to Mekele.The Tekeze Hydro Electric project aims to construct the Highest double curve arch dam in Africa, topping the current highest, Lesotho. The contractors behind the project are CWGS and completion is scheduled to occur in 2009.
See also
External links
- Maps of Ethiopia - Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...