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Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile River and the largest lake in Ethiopia, located in the highlands of the country’s northwest at an altitude of 1840 meters. It is approximately 84 kilometers long, 66 kilometers wide, and has a maximum depth of 15 meters. Water from the Reb River and Gumara River flows into Lake Tana, and the lake’s surface area varies depending on the season and rainfall, typically ranging from 3000 to 3500 square kilometers. After a dam was built at the point where Lake Tana flows into the Blue Nile River, the water level of the lake is regulated, and it also controls the flow of water to the Tis Abay waterfall and hydroelectric plant.
The number of islands in the lake changes with the water level, which has decreased by 6 feet over the past 400 years. According to the 17th-century Portuguese missionary Manoel de Almeida, there were 21 islands in the lake, with 7 to 8 of them hosting large monasteries. When James Bruce surveyed the area in the 18th century, local residents reported that 45 islands were inhabited, but he believed there were only 11. A modern geographer has named 37 islands, believing that 19 of them once had monasteries or churches.
Lake Tana
Reasons to visit: The largest lake in Ethiopia
Continent: Africa
Country: Ethiopia
Region: Amhara Region
