Lake Tana

Ethiopia / Amhara / Werota /

Lake Tana is the source of the Abay River (Blue Nile), and is situated at an elevation of 1788 meters (5866 feet), in Mirab (West) Gojam, about 555 kilometers (345 miles) northwest of Addis Ababa, along the Gojam highway. There are numerous islands on the lake, many of which are home to some of Ethiopia's ancient monasteries.

The lake is about 79 km (49 miles) long, 64 km (40 miles) wide (max). It has a mean depth of 9 meters (30 feet), and the maximum depth of 14 meters (46 feet). Stretching over the surface area of 3,200 km² (1,236 mi²), it's the largest body of water in Ethiopia. And, in terms of volume, it is estimated to contain 28 billion m³ (988.8 billion ft³) of water which amounts to the second largest in the country, next only to that of Lake Shala.

Lake Tana is fed by a number of rivers, of which the Gilgel Abya ('Little Abay') is the principal contributor to the lake's inflow and hence considered the ultimate source of the Blue Nile. On the southern shore of Lake Tana lies the city of Bahir Dar, and is also the site of the Blue Nile's outlet, from where it begins its long journey.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   11°57'5"N   37°18'29"E

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  • РОДИНА ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСТВА. - THE CRADDLE OF MANKIND.
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