Lake Abijatta

{{Short description|Alkaline lake situated in Oromia Region, Ethiopia}} {{Infobox lake | name = Lake Abijatta | image = O'a caldera.jpg | caption = Lake Abijatta (right) and [[Lake Shala]] (left) | alt = A satellite image of two lakes | image_bathymetry = Ethiopia_central_lakes.jpg | caption_bathymetry = | location = | coords = {{coord|7|37|N|38|36|E|region:ET-OR_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Ethiopia | length = {{convert|17|km|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|205|km2|abbr=on}} | depth = | max-depth = {{convert|14|m|abbr=on}} | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|1,573|m|abbr=on}} | islands = | cities =  | pushpin_map = Ethiopia | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Abijatta in Ethiopia. | pushpin_map_caption =  | website = | reference = }}

'''Lake Abijatta''' is an [[alkaline lake]] in [[Ethiopia]]. It lies in the [[Main Ethiopian Rift]] valley south of [[Addis Ababa]], in the [[Abijatta-Shalla National Park]].

==Overview== [[File:Flamingoes on Lake Abiyatta.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Flamingo]]es on Lake Abiyatta]] According to the ''Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia for 1967/68'', the lake is 17 kilometers long and 15 km wide, with a surface area of 205 square kilometers. It has a maximum depth of 14 meters and is at an elevation of 1,573 meters.

Along the northeastern corner of this lake are a number of hot springs, which are important both as a tourist attraction and to the local inhabitants.

Additionally, there is a soda ash operation on the shores of this lake, which produces 20,000 tons of [[sodium carbonate]]. Proven reserves at Lake Abijata, as well as the neighboring [[Lake Shala|Shala]] and [[Lake Chitu|Chitu]] lakes, exceed 460 million tons.<ref>[http://www.geology.gov.et/current%20exploration%20and%20mining.html Current Exploration and Mining] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070422062521/http://www.geology.gov.et/current%20exploration%20and%20mining.html |date=2007-04-22 }}, Geological Survey of Ethiopia Web Page (accessed 26 January 2009)</ref> [[Flamingo]]es are also found at the lake.

Multidisciplinary studies, including the examination of sedimentology, palynology, diatoms and organic matter have been undertaken on a 6 m core from Lake Abijata, Ethiopia. The bottom of this core has been dated at 1720 ± BP. Analyses have shown four distinct stages in lake evolution. Two transgressive phases that have been recognized can be correlated with other lake level evidence. The transgressions result from changing inputs from lowland and highland regions within the catchment. They are most probably related to changes in seasonal rainfall patterns.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bonnefille|first1=R.|last2=Robert|first2=C.|last3=Lezine|first3=A. M.|last4=Perinet|first4=G.|last5=Delibrias|first5=G.|last6=Elenga|first6=C.|last7=Herbin|first7=J. P.|last8=Tiercelin|first8=J. J.|date=1986|title=Palaeoenvironment of Lake Abijata, Ethiopia, during the past 2000 years|journal=Geological Society, London, Special Publications|volume=25|issue=1|pages=253–265|doi=10.1144/gsl.sp.1986.025.01.21|s2cid=128780442|issn=0305-8719}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Rift Valley lakes]]

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305213243/http://wldb.ilec.or.jp/Lake.asp?LakeID=SAFR-003 ILEC database entry for Lake Abijatta]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abijatta}} [[Category:Lakes of Ethiopia]] [[Category:Lakes of the Great Rift Valley]] [[Category:Geography of Oromia]]