Lake Shala

{{short description|Alkaline lake situated in Oromia Region, Ethiopia}} {{Infobox lake | name = Lake Shala | image = Lake Shala.jpg | caption = Lake Shala in background | image_bathymetry = Ethiopia_central_lakes.jpg | caption_bathymetry = | location = | coords = {{Coord|7|29|N|38|32|E|region:ET_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Ethiopia | length = {{convert|28|km|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|329|km2|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|87|m|abbr=on}} | max-depth = {{convert|266|m|abbr=on}} | volume = {{Convert|36.7|km3|cumi|abbr=on}} | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|1,558|m|abbr=on}} | islands = [[Pelican Island, Ethiopia|Pelican Island]] | cities =  | pushpin_map = Ethiopia | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Shala in Ethiopia. | pushpin_map_caption =  | website = | reference = }} '''Lake Shala''' (also spelled '''Shalla''') is an [[alkaline lake]] located in the [[Ethiopian Rift Valley]], in the [[Abijatta-Shalla National Park]].

==Overview== The [[lake]] is 28 kilometers long and 12 wide,<ref>''Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia for 1967/68''</ref> with a surface area of 329 square kilometers.<ref name="baxter">Baxter, R. M. "Lake Morphology and Chemistry", in Taylor, W.D. and Tudorancea, C., eds. ''Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes'' (Leiden: Backhuys Publishers, 2002)</ref> It has a maximum depth of 266 meters and is at an elevation of 1,558 meters.<ref name="baxter"/> As such, it is the deepest of [[Rift Valley lakes#Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes|Ethiopia's Rift Valley lakes]].

Known for the [[sulphur]] [[spring (hydrosphere)|springs]] on the [[lake bed]], its [[island]]s are inhabited by [[great white pelican]]s, one being known as [[Pelican Island, Ethiopia|Pelican Island]].

Lake Shala is surrounded by hot springs filled with boiling water, and the earth surrounding the lake is filled with cracks due to erosion and earthquakes. Due to steam rising from the boiling water in the springs, the atmosphere around the lake is relatively foggy. Various species of [[flamingo]]es and birds that frequent the lake are found at its southern end.

==See also== *[[O'a Caldera]] *[[Rift Valley lakes]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Lakes of Ethiopia|Shala]] [[Category:Lakes of the Great Rift Valley|Shala]] [[Category:Ethiopian Highlands]] [[Category:Geography of Oromia]]