Lake Abaya
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| Lake Abaya | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Primary sources | Bilate River |
| Basin countries | Ethiopia |
| Max length | 60 km |
| Max width | 20 km |
| Surface area | 1160 km² |
| Max depth | 13 m |
| Surface elevation | 1268 m |
| Settlements | Arba Minch |
Lake Abaya is a lake in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. It was named Lake Margherita by the Italian explorer Vittorio Bottego, the first European to visit the lake, to honor the wife of king Umberto I of Italy, Queen Margherita. This name appears in older publications, and is currently rarely used.
Lake Abaya is located in the Great Rift Valley. It is fed on its northern shore by the Bilate River, which rises on the southern slopes of Mount Gurage. The town of Arba Minch lies on its southwestern shore, and the southern shores are part of the Nechisar National Park. According to the Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia for 1967/68, Lake Abaya is 60 kilometers long and 20 wide, with a surface area of 1160 square kilometers. It has a maximum depth of 13 meters and is at an elevation of 1268 meters.
The lake is red due to a high load of suspended sediments[1]. Savanna, known for its wildlife and birdlife surrounds the lake, which is also fished by local people.
