# Lake Shala

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Alkaline lake situated in Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Lake Shala Lake Shala in background Lake Shala Coordinates 7°29′N 38°32′E / 7.483°N 38.533°E / 7.483; 38.533 Basin countries Ethiopia Max. length 28 km (17 mi) Max. width 12 km (7.5 mi) Surface area 329 km2 (127 sq mi) Average depth 87 m (285 ft) Max. depth 266 m (873 ft) Water volume 36.7 km3 (8.8 cu mi) Surface elevation 1,558 m (5,112 ft) Islands Pelican Island

**Lake Shala** (also spelled **Shalla**) is an [alkaline lake](/source/Alkaline_lake) located in the [Ethiopian Rift Valley](/source/Ethiopian_Rift_Valley), in the [Abijatta-Shalla National Park](/source/Abijatta-Shalla_National_Park).

## Overview

The [lake](/source/Lake) is 28 kilometers long and 12 wide,[1] with a surface area of 329 square kilometers.[2] It has a maximum depth of 266 meters and is at an elevation of 1,558 meters.[2] As such, it is the deepest of [Ethiopia's Rift Valley lakes](/source/Rift_Valley_lakes#Ethiopian_Rift_Valley_lakes).

Known for the [sulphur](/source/Sulphur) [springs](/source/Spring_(hydrosphere)) on the [lake bed](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_bed&action=edit&redlink=1), its [islands](/source/Island) are inhabited by [great white pelicans](/source/Great_white_pelican), one being known as [Pelican Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pelican_Island,_Ethiopia&action=edit&redlink=1).

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 [flamingoes](/source/Flamingo) and birds that frequent the lake are found at its southern end.

## See also

- [O'a Caldera](/source/O'a_Caldera)

- [Rift Valley lakes](/source/Rift_Valley_lakes)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia for 1967/68*

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-baxter_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-baxter_2-1) Baxter, R. M. "Lake Morphology and Chemistry", in Taylor, W.D. and Tudorancea, C., eds. *Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes* (Leiden: Backhuys Publishers, 2002)

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