{{Short description|River in the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia}}{{Infobox river|name=Meshaha River|country=Ethiopia|state_type=Province|state=Gondar|image=Ras Dejen western peak with some snow.JPG|map=Ethiopia relief location map.jpg|map_caption=The Meshaha River is in the north-northwest, near Gondar.|image_caption=West peak, with frost}}[[File:Ras Dejen view onto Bwahit.JPG|thumb|View of Bwahit Mountain from Ras Dejen, with the Meshaha Valley also visible. Same image as in infobox but taken in the warm season.]] The '''Meshaha''' or '''Mesheha River''' is a relatively short minor tributary river of the Tekeze that rises in and runs through the Simien Mountains in Gondar province, Amhara, northwestern Ethiopia. It is situated near Ras Dejen, Ethiopia's highest peak, in a valley that is relatively hot and dry compared to the lands above.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Ultimate Simien Mountains Adventure: Tips and Highlights |url=https://ethiopiangobgnu.com/blogs/The-Ultimate-Simien-Mountains-Adventure:-Tips-and-Highlights?%3E |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=ethiopiangobgnu.com |language=en}}</ref> It is part of a system of westerly ravines relative to Ras Dejen; therefore it drains into the Tekeze River (they all do).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Loots |first=Harry |date=2021-07-05 |title=How to climb Ras Dashen - Ethiopia's highest peak |url=https://mountain-paths.com/how-to-climb-ras-dashen |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=mountain paths |language=en-GB}}</ref> At approximately {{Convert|2800|m|ft}} of elevation, it is far below the mountains and plateaus surrounding it and below the treeline [at {{Convert|3700|m|ft}} in the Simien Mountains].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Simien Mountains National Park Trekking Routes |url=https://www.simienmountainsnationalpark.org/simien-mountains-national-park-trekking-routes/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Simien Mountains National Park |language=en-US}}</ref> The river is extremely active and fast-flowing during the rainy season (mid-June to mid-September).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

Three villages, Ambikwa, Chiro Leba and Mizma, exist on the slopes of the river valley.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=wordydog15 |date=2022-11-10 |title=7-Day Simien Mountains trek |url=https://abebatoursethiopia.com/7-day-simien-mountains-trek/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Abeba Tours Ethiopia |language=en-US}}</ref> A trail winds through it from Bwahit Pass to Dejen Pass.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

== History and geology == The river valley is very eroded, steep, and deep, as the Simien Mountains are the result of a dramatic uplifting after a violent volcanic eruption in the area and their landscapes are very eroded and varied in terms of elevation, as is the river valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simien Mountains {{!}} Geology, Soil and Landscape |url=http://simienmountains.org/the-park/geology-soil-and-landscape |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=simienmountains.org}}</ref> As a result, the river was likely created with the massif in the Oligocene and eroded the valley over time after its creation.

The river is within Simien Mountains National Park, which has been a park since 1969 along with Awash National Park, the only two parks in the country until 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simien Mountains {{!}} History |url=http://www.simienmountains.org/the-park/history |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=www.simienmountains.org}}</ref>

== Geography ==

=== Course === The Meshaha River rises in the high Simien Mountains, approximately {{Convert|500|mi|km}} north-northwest of Addis Ababa and {{Convert|200|mi|km}} northeast of Lake Tana,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bing Maps |url=https://www.bing.com/maps?mepi=24~~TopOfPage~LargeMapLink&ty=18&q=Ras+Dashen,+Amhara+Region,+Ethiopia&satid=id.sid:e72a22de-f629-27fc-a9f1-33fa7d3945c4&vdpid=7329266780906455041&ppois=13.23642635345459_38.36845397949219_Ras+Dashen,+Amhara+Region,+Ethiopia_~&cp=12.43488~37.873014&v=2&sV=1&FORM=MIRE&qpvt=Ras+Dejen+bing+maps&lvl=8.3 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Bing Maps |language=en}}</ref> and flows through its namesake ravine between Ras Dejen and Bwahit Mountain, eventually draining into the Tekeze farther west.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

=== Climate === The area around the Meshaha River and Ras Dejen (not the summit, around 2,000 m) has a ''BSh'' (hot semi-desert) climate, bordering on a ''Cwa'' (hot-summer subtropical highland) and a ''Cwb'' (the warm-summer variant), with mild to warm, rainy summers and warm to hot, extremely arid winters. The average lowest temperature to be observed in a year is {{Convert|48|F|C}}, and the average highest is {{Convert|88|F|C}}, giving an amplitude of 40 F (22 C).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simulated historical climate & weather data for Ras Dejen |url=https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/ras-dejen_ethiopia_329710 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=meteoblue |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Ethiopian highlands 01 mod.jpg|thumb|An ibex looking into Ras Dejen (top left, cloud-covered) from a valley with sub-alpine vegetation. Ibexes are endemic to Ethiopia.]]

=== Flora and fauna === The river, being in a semi-desert area, has some arid-climate plants on and just above its banks, such as Euphorbias. Slightly higher up, the land below the treeline, on the banks of the river and higher op on the slopes of the ravine, is farmland with scattered bushes and small trees, grading to alpine tundra above 3,700 meters closer to the summits of both mountains. The highest areas, above ~{{Convert|4050|m|ft}} are mostly rock and frost, without substantial vegetation of any kind, but they do not have an ice cap climate (''EF'').<ref name=":2" />

Rare animals that are endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands exist at this river and the cliffs around it, such as Walia ibexes, Ethiopian wolves, bearded vultures, and Gelada baboons (famously known as "bleeding heart baboons).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ras Dashen - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) |url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293791-d10290657-Reviews-Ras_Dashen-Addis_Ababa.html |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Tripadvisor |language=en}}</ref>

== Gallery == In all pictures that have been taken from above, the elephant-trunk-shaped formation is the Meshaha valley.<gallery> View from Ras Bwahit - panoramio.jpg|Meshaha Valley seen from Bwahit ISS012-E-11328 - View of Ethiopia.jpg|Meshaha Valley visible from above In all from-above pics, the elephant-trunk shaped formation is the Meshaha Valley Ras Dashen, Ethiopia.jpg|Ras Dejen and the Meshaha Valley in false color Ras Dashen and Tekeze River.jpg|View of Ras Dejen and Meshaha Valley from above </gallery>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Coord|12|56|51|N|38|34|39|E|region:RT_type:river|name=Meshaha River mouth|display=title}}

Category:Rivers of Ethiopia Category:Simien Mountains