Lake Ziway

Lake Ziway

Lake Ziway, also called the Hora-Dambal or simply Dambal, is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The area is home to the Zay people. It is located approximately 100 miles to the south of Addis Ababa, on the border of Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region. The lake is drained by the Bulbula River, which flows into Lake Abijatta. The lake is mainly fed by two rivers, the Meki River in the west and the Qatar River in the east. It has a drainage area of 7025 square kilometers in total. With a length of 31 kilometers and a width of 20 kilometers, Lake Ziway covers an area of 440 square kilometers, has a maximal depth of 9 meters and lies at an altitude of 1636 meters above sea level. It features five islands, namely Debre Sina, Galila, Funduro, Tsedecha and Tulu Gudo, which houses a monastery rumored to have been home to the Ark of the Covenant circa the 9th century. Hippos are often seen in and around the lake, while on land, indigenous bird species nest on the lake's various islands, shores and in the adjacent forests. Among the most popular are the bright-feathered Yellow Fronted Parrot, the nearly glowing Black Winged Lovebird and the Thick-Billed Raven. In addition to these, there is also the Sacred Ibis and the Hammer Kop.