Lake Chamo

Lake Chamo

Lake Chamo is located in southern Ethiopia, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region, in the main Ethiopian Rift, at an altitude of 1110 meters above sea level, and overlooks the Central Rift Valley. The lake is located east of the Guge Mountains and west of the Amaro Mountains, south of Lake Abaya and the town of Arba Minch, which is the gateway to the Omo Valley. The northern end of Lake Chamo is located in the Nechisar National Park. With a surface area of 317 square kilometers, a maximum depth of 14 meters and a drainage area of approximately 18,757 square kilometers, the lake is 32 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide. The lake is bordered by beds of Typha vegetation and by a wetland area. It is supplied by the Kulfo River and several smaller streams, as well as a tributary from Lake Abaya to the Ualo River. Lake Chamo is best known for its large population of hippos and crocodiles. It is home to four of the world's six largest crocodiles, and at the northern end of the lake, near Nechisar National Park, many giant crocodiles sunbathe on the shore or in the reeds. Zebras, which live much deeper in Nechsar National Park, are sometimes spotted at these waters, much to the delight of the crocodiles that wait in the murky water for them to come and drink.