Water Bodies

The Region is fortunate in possessing a number of water basins, which is certainly one of the reasons for the rich biological diversity. There are a number of rivers rising from the different highland parts of the region, in which most of them drains at the end to the Great Rift Valley Lakes (Hawassa, Abaya, Chamo, Turakan and Chelbi and other smaller creator lakes) of the Region. The two large water basins of the region area the Gereat Rift Valley lakes river basins and the Omo Valley River basins..

Rivers and Lakes

There are perennial and seasonal rivers in the Region having different volume, length, and potential. Major River such as Omo (one of the big river in the country), Gibe, Gojeb, Bilate, Segen, Akobo and Woito etc. and a number of springs and waterfalls are found in the region. Most of the Rift Valley Lakes that the country possess are as follows: Lake Abaya (the largest of the Great Rift Valley Lakes of Ethiopia), Chamo (the most productive), Hawassa, Rudolf (located border with Kenya) are very well known for their fishery production. These water bodies are home for crocodiles, hippopotamus, and diverse fish’s and waterfowl species. Besides, the lakes are suitable for sport fishing, boating and for other tourism recreational purposes

Most of the lakes are suitable and safe for swimming and other water sports. Lakes Chamo, Hawassa, and Chew-Bahir are ideal places for bird watchers. Most of the lakes are not fully exploited for tourists except Lake Hawassa and to some extent Chamo where tourist class hotels are built along the shore of the lakes and the nearby town. The Rift Valley is also a site of numerous natural hot springs and the chemical contents of the hot springs are highly valued for their therapeutic purposes for the local communities and others. In short, the Rift Valley is endowed with many beautiful lakes, numerous hot springs, warm and pleasant climate and a variety of wildlife. It is considered as one of the most ideal areas for the development of international tourism in the region and the country as a whole.

Waterfalls (Cascade)

The rugged nature of the terrain and the long rainy season are reasons for the formation of natural waterfalls in the Region. The most spectacular waterfalls include Ajora fall: (on border of Wolita and Kembata-Tembaro), Acho fall (Gurage,) Logita and Bonora falls (Sidama), Bartta fall (Kafa), Finchiwa fall (Hadiya) and Shekshko fall (Sheka Zone).

Cold and Hot Springs

The Region has numerous natural springs as well as holly and mineral waters which are curative & attractive. The Forty-Springs “Arba-Minch” ( Gamo-Gofa), Wondo-Genet & Gidabo Hot-Springs (Sidama), Arto Hot-Springs (Halaba), Dadiben Hot-Springs (Kaffa), Luqe and Jato Hot-Springs (Gurage), Wejemta and Usinka Hot-Springs (Benchi-Maji Zone).