Blue Nile River
The Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia (where it is called the Abay River). The river flows generally south before entering a canyon about 400 km (250 mi) long, about 30 km (19 mi) from Lake Tana, which is a tremendous obstacle for travel and communication between north and south Ethiopia. The canyon was first referred to as the “Grand Canyon” in 1968 by a British team that accomplished the first descent of the river from Lake Tana to the end of the canyon; subsequent river rafting parties called it the “Grand Canyon of the Nile”. The Blue Nile Falls (Amharic: Tis Abay, literally “great smoke”), one of Ethiopia’s biggest tourist attractions, is located at the start of the canyon.
Related Attractions
Simien Mountains
Ethiopia is home to 80% of the land in Africa above 3,000m. Thus, the Simien Mountains, with the highest point in Ethiopia (Ras Dejen at 4,543m) is also known as ‘the roof of Africa.’ The Simien Mountains were formed prior to the creation of the Rift Valley, from lava...
The Debreziet (Bishoftu) Crater Lakes
The craters are maars, or explosion craters, similar to El Sod, and were formed in a similar manner by a multitude of explosive steam eruptions through groundwater or a shallow lake. The crater rim deposits at DebreZeit (Bishoftu) consist of cinders, ash, and...
Sof Omar Caves
Sof Omar Cave- "unique harmony between nature and culture"The Sof Omar Cave System, a spectacular and extensive cave system in southeastern Ethiopia represents a maze of dry cave passages, which subsequently were crossed by a subterranean watercourse formed by the...
Lake Afdera
Lake Afdera [Lake Afrera], located in the Afar region, Ethiopia. It is a supper saturated saline Lake located in the Danakil Depression, lying below a sea level with the lowest point at –112m and has a surface area of 140km2. It is a major source of salt extraction in...
Ethiopian Rift Valley
The great Rift Valley of Ethiopia is not only the cradle of humankind, but also the place on Earth where humans have lived with volcanoes, and exploited their resources, for the longest period of time. Perhaps as long ago as 3 Million years, early hominids began to...
Lake Abaya & Chamo
The two lakes themselves are separated by a ridge of basalt known as Tosa Sucha, or the “Bridge of God”,which formed between 1.34 and 0.68 million years ago. Currently, the only connection between the lakes is a small channel which flows only when their water levels...
Erta’ale Volcanoes
Geology Erta Ale is 613 meters (2,011 ft) high, with one or sometimes two active lava lakes at the summit which occasionally overflow on the south side of the volcano. It is notable for holding the longest-existing lava lake, present since the early years of the...
Danakil Depression
The Danakil Depression lies at the triple junction of three tectonic plates and has a complex geological history. It has developed as a result of Africa and Asia moving apart, causing rifting and volcanic activity. Erosion, inundation by the sea, the rising and...
Bale Mountains
The Bale Mountains were formed prior to the creation of the Rift Valley, from lava outpourings, which covered all underlying rock formations between 38 and 7 million years ago. The rocks of the volcanic outpourings are predominantly trachytes, but also include...