853:
942:
45:
352:
360:
576:
344:
380:
52:
368:
29:
566:
Because of the large seasonal variations in the inflow of its tributaries, rain and evaporation, the water levels of Lake Tana typically vary by 2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft) in a year, peaking in
September–October just after the main wet season. When the water levels are high, the plains around the
413:
visited the area in 1771, he noted that the locals counted 45 inhabited islands, but stated he believed that "the number may be about eleven." Anton
Stecker, in 1881, made a detailed examination of the lake, enabling substantially accurate maps, and counted 44 islands. A 20th-century geographer named
882:, which the department estimated was 15% of its sustainable amount. Nevertheless, in a review that compared catches in 2001 to those ten years earlier, it was found that typical sizes of both the tilapia and the catfish had significantly decreased, and populations of the
397:
The lake was originally much larger than it is today. Seven large permanent rivers feed the lake as well as 40 small seasonal rivers. The main tributaries to the lake are Gilgel Abbay (Little Nile River), and the Megech, Gumara, and Rib rivers.
307:, the lake is approximately 84 kilometres (52 miles) long and 66 kilometres (41 miles) wide, with a maximum depth of 15 metres (49 feet), and an elevation of 1,788 metres (5,866 feet). Lake Tana is fed by the
319:
rivers. Its surface area ranges from 3,000 to 3,500 square kilometres (1,200 to 1,400 square miles), depending on season and rainfall. The lake level has been regulated since the construction of the control
1419:
1409:
902:. In the early 2000s, the local government for the first time introduced a fisheries legislation and it is hoped this will have a positive effect on the fish populations.
1391:
401:
Lake Tana has a number of islands, whose number varies depending on the level of the lake. It has fallen about 6 feet (1.8 m) in the last 400 years. According to
555:
Compared to other tropical lakes, the waters in Lake Tana are relatively cold, typically ranging from about 20 to 27 °C (68–81 °F). The water has a
1166:
The Source of the Blue Nile: A Record of a
Journey Through the Soudan to Lake Tsana in Western Abyssinia, and of the Return to Egypt by the Valley of the Atbara
409:
missionary in the early 17th century), there were 21 islands, seven to eight of which had monasteries on them "formerly large, but now much diminished." When
878:
barbs, Nile tilapia and sharptooth catfish. According to the
Ethiopian Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 1,454 tons of fish were landed in 2011 at
434:
422:
517:
438:
618:
in the
Philippines, has been decimated by introduced species). It consists of 15 relatively large, up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long,
544:
516:
The monasteries are believed to have been built during the Middle Ages over earlier religious sites. They include the fourteenth-century
1437:
510:
1500:
506:
1495:
87:
1490:
933:
of Lake Tana are relatively inefficient predators that can only take fish up to about 15% of the length of the predator itself.
1388:
1275:
1310:
Evolutionary origin of Lake Tana's (Ethiopia) small Barbus species: indications of rapid ecological divergence and speciation.
1363:
1246:
1125:
913:
is generally released directly into the lake. The vegetation in the lake's wetlands, which are an important nursery for the
1068:
44:
886:
barbs that breed in the tributaries had significantly declined. Among the endemic fish, most are considered threatened (
1198:
418:
776:, eight species spawn in the lake's wetlands and the remaining move seasonally into its tributaries where they spawn.
220:
917:
and other fish, are being cleared at a fast pace. A potentially serious threat to the unique ecosystem would be an
1475:
1237:
Vijverberg, J.; F.A. Sibbing; E. Dejen (2009). "Lake Tana: Source of the Blue Nile". In H.J. Dumont (ed.).
363:
A local tour guide demonstrates how a stone is struck to signal meal times at a monastery on Zege
Peninsula
803:
1108:
Vijverberg, Jacobus; Sibbing, Ferdinand A.; Dejen, Eshete (2009). "Lake Tana: Source of the Blue Nile".
1460:
863:
841:
591:, the lake supports a highly distinctive aquatic fauna, which generally is related to species from the
730:
672:
454:
1011:
852:
746:
650:
632:
332:
1241:. Monographiae Biologicae. Vol. 89. Springer Science + Business Media B.V. pp. 163–193.
1480:
791:
785:
752:
720:
700:
678:
638:
583:
Since there are no inflows that link the lake to other large waterways and the main outflow, the
273:
952:
Among other fauna, the lake supports relatively few invertebrates: There are fifteen species of
390:
Lake Tana was formed by volcanic activity, blocking the course of inflowing rivers in the early
1465:
1399:
567:
lake often are flooded and other permanent swamps in the region become connected to the lake.
1164:
764:
740:
660:
644:
490:
145:
666:
8:
1485:
1297:
Barbus tanapelagius, A New
Species from Lake Tana (Ethiopia): its Morphology and Ecology.
964:
945:
871:
521:
478:
304:
1414:
1470:
1455:
1404:
1384:
Lake Tana project webpage of The Nature and
Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU e.V.)
1383:
996:
918:
891:
887:
824:
758:
710:
119:
941:
1427:
1359:
1242:
1194:
1121:
980:
426:
402:
1322:"Information on Fisheries Management in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia"
1272:
1113:
999:, are known from Lake Tana. It is an important resting and feeding ground for many
836:
462:
264:
520:, and the eighteenth-century Narga Selassie, Tana Qirqos (said to have housed the
1395:
1279:
1150:
797:
588:
502:
414:
37 islands, of which he believed 19 have or had monasteries or churches on them.
325:
1117:
968:
895:
830:
540:
498:
430:
238:
159:
738:(however, juveniles of all members of the species flock feed on zooplankton),
1449:
1441:. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 347–348.
1432:
1186:
963:
About 230 species of birds, including more than 80 wetland birds such as the
926:
808:
611:
450:
351:
300:
102:
89:
1321:
359:
335:
recognizing its national and international natural and cultural importance.
324:
where the lake discharges into the Blue Nile. This controls the flow to the
1015:
812:
470:
466:
316:
138:
130:
858:
735:
715:
655:
620:
474:
446:
442:
410:
391:
308:
230:
226:
126:
73:
1000:
992:
922:
910:
816:
769:
684:
615:
592:
575:
528:), and Ura Kidane Mehret, known for its regalia. A ferry service links
494:
482:
234:
120:
343:
146:
1378:
1093:
1007:
906:
879:
584:
529:
486:
384:
372:
312:
296:
248:
152:
134:
972:
608:
604:
560:
406:
292:
165:
1236:
953:
725:
533:
379:
252:
682:
are mostly piscivorous. Their most important prey are the small
469:
to
Ethiopia, is "allegedly buried on Tana Cherqos." The body of
1334:
957:
626:
543:
on the southwest portion of the lake. Zege is the site of the
1019:
1018:
have been recorded near the Blue Nile outflow from the lake.
976:
905:
Other serious threats are habitat destruction and pollution.
898:(available data insufficient for evaluating a status) by the
705:
704:(non-endemic and not closely related to the others) feeds on
690:
458:
1426:
367:
33:
West-looking photograph of Lake Tana from space (April 1991)
28:
1112:. Monographiae Biologicae. Vol. 89. pp. 163–192.
988:
984:
899:
603:
There are 27 fish species in Lake Tana and 20 of these are
525:
417:
Remains of ancient
Ethiopian emperors and treasures of the
321:
288:
1037:
1035:
1425:
Garstin, William Edmund; Cana, Frank Richardson (1911).
1324:, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), January 2003
956:, including one endemic, and also an endemic freshwater
925:, which has been implicated in numerous extinctions in
909:
has become a large city and it is rapidly growing; its
556:
421:
are kept in the isolated island monasteries (including
1107:
1032:
16:
Largest lake in Ethiopia and major source of Blue Nile
445:, Kota Maryam, and Mertola Maryam). On the island of
278:
1357:
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
921:
of a large and efficient predatory species like the
698:
in Lake Tana have other specialized feeding habits:
550:
1232:
1230:
1228:
1226:
756:(non-endemic but closely related to the others),
331:In 2015, the Lake Tana region was nominated as a
1447:
1224:
1222:
1220:
1218:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1206:
1022:are present, mostly near the Blue Nile outflow.
477:. Emperors whose tombs are also on Daga include
80:
536:via Dek Island and various lakeshore villages.
493:. Other important islands in Lake Tana include
473:is interred in the monastery of St. Stephen on
579:Lily pads floating near the shore on Lake Tana
1203:
1299:Environmental Biology of Fishes 59 (1): 1-9.
815:(widespread in Africa, but with the endemic
1424:
1420:Pictures from Lake Tana and the Monasteries
1308:de Graaf, Megens, Samallo, Sibbing (2007).
1270:Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (2008).
1041:
1295:de Graaf, Dejen, Sibbing and Osse (2000).
1103:
1101:
1335:"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species"
1291:
1289:
1141:
1139:
1137:
811:). The remaining non-endemic species are
1193:(New York: Palgrave, 2000), p. 73.
1169:. Smith, Elder & Company. p. 73
1075:. European Space Agency. 5 November 2004
940:
851:
574:
378:
366:
358:
350:
342:
1379:Homepage of Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve
1266:
1264:
1262:
1260:
1258:
1098:
1094:Homepage of Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve
783:species flock, the endemic species are
744:on macrophytes and adults insects, and
1448:
1302:
1286:
1134:
847:
607:. This includes one of only two known
595:. The lake's nutrient levels are low.
1191:Layers of Time: A History of Ethiopia
1162:
1145:C.F. Beckham and G.W.B. Huntingford,
624:barbs that formerly were included in
328:(Tis Abbai) and hydro-power station.
195:3,200 km (1,200 sq mi)
1255:
1069:"Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile"
457:had rested on her journey back from
1147:Some Records of Ethiopia, 1593-1646
563:and its transparency is quite low.
13:
394:epoch, about 5 million years ago.
375:river by its outlet from Lake Tana
14:
1512:
1372:
51:
1501:Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia
1055:Statistical Abstract of Ethiopia
551:Water characteristics and floods
50:
43:
27:
1496:Freshwater ecoregions of Africa
1349:
1327:
1315:
383:A resort hotel on Lake Tana in
1491:Biosphere reserves of Ethiopia
1180:
1156:
1149:, (series 2, no. 107; London:
1087:
1061:
1047:
936:
874:industry, mainly based on the
768:on benthic invertebrates like
355:The Island Church on Lake Tana
1:
1153:, 1954), p. 35 and note.
1025:
1312:Animal Biology 57(1): 39-48.
559:that is neutral to somewhat
211:1,788 m (5,866 ft)
7:
1118:10.1007/978-1-4020-9726-3_9
870:Lake Tana supports a large
804:Afronemacheilus abyssinicus
453:, on which he was told the
338:
279:
10:
1517:
1410:Unesco plan for Lake T'ana
1355:Largen and Spawls (2010).
864:African sharptooth catfish
842:African sharptooth catfish
772:larvae. Among the endemic
807:(one of only two African
268:
244:
219:
215:
207:
199:
191:
183:
175:
171:
158:
144:
118:
79:
69:
38:
26:
21:
1283:Accessed 24 January 2012
1012:African softshell turtle
570:
461:; he was also told that
333:UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
1438:Encyclopædia Britannica
1405:Photographs of the lake
1042:Garstin & Cana 1911
786:Enteromius pleurogramma
694:species. The remaining
598:
587:, is obstructed by the
524:before it was moved to
225:The most important are
187:66 km (41 mi)
179:84 km (52 mi)
1400:Aberystwyth University
949:
867:
630:instead. Among these,
580:
387:
376:
364:
356:
348:
203:15 m (49 ft)
944:
855:
578:
382:
370:
362:
354:
346:
303:in the north-western
1163:Hayes, A.J. (1905).
1003:migrant waterbirds.
946:Great white pelicans
347:Views over Lake Tana
295:and a source of the
1476:Ethiopian Highlands
1073:Observing the Earth
965:great white pelican
848:Fishing and threats
779:In addition to the
724:on macrophytes and
522:Ark of the Covenant
449:is a rock shown to
305:Ethiopian Highlands
99: /
1394:2016-03-03 at the
1278:2011-10-05 at the
997:African fish eagle
950:
929:. The piscivorous
868:
866:caught in the lake
581:
388:
377:
365:
357:
349:
1461:Lakes of Ethiopia
1389:Lake Tana project
1364:978-3-89973-466-9
1248:978-1-4020-9725-6
1127:978-1-4020-9725-6
981:African spoonbill
614:(the other, from
465:, who introduced
427:Ura Kidane Mehret
403:Manoel de Almeida
371:Beginning of the
287:) is the largest
277:
258:
257:
208:Surface elevation
103:12.000°N 37.250°E
1508:
1442:
1430:
1366:
1353:
1347:
1346:
1344:
1342:
1331:
1325:
1319:
1313:
1306:
1300:
1293:
1284:
1268:
1253:
1252:
1234:
1201:
1184:
1178:
1177:
1175:
1174:
1160:
1154:
1143:
1132:
1131:
1105:
1096:
1091:
1085:
1084:
1082:
1080:
1065:
1059:
1058:
1051:
1045:
1039:
731:L. brevicephalus
673:L. macrophtalmus
419:Ethiopian Church
282:
272:
270:
148:
147:Primary outflows
122:
114:
113:
111:
110:
109:
104:
100:
97:
96:
95:
92:
82:
54:
53:
47:
31:
19:
18:
1516:
1515:
1511:
1510:
1509:
1507:
1506:
1505:
1446:
1445:
1415:LakeNet Profile
1396:Wayback Machine
1375:
1370:
1369:
1354:
1350:
1340:
1338:
1333:
1332:
1328:
1320:
1316:
1307:
1303:
1294:
1287:
1280:Wayback Machine
1269:
1256:
1249:
1235:
1204:
1185:
1181:
1172:
1170:
1161:
1157:
1151:Hakluyt Society
1144:
1135:
1128:
1106:
1099:
1092:
1088:
1078:
1076:
1067:
1066:
1062:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1040:
1033:
1028:
939:
850:
798:Garra regressus
792:E. tanapelagius
747:L. crassibarbis
651:L. truttiformis
633:L. acutirostris
601:
589:Blue Nile Falls
573:
553:
503:Gelila Zakarias
341:
326:Blue Nile Falls
162: countries
129:, Kilti River,
121:Primary inflows
107:
105:
101:
98:
93:
90:
88:
86:
85:
65:
64:
63:
62:
61:
60:
59:
55:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1514:
1504:
1503:
1498:
1493:
1488:
1483:
1481:Mountain lakes
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1444:
1443:
1433:Chisholm, Hugh
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1386:
1381:
1374:
1373:External links
1371:
1368:
1367:
1348:
1326:
1314:
1301:
1285:
1254:
1247:
1202:
1199:978-0312227197
1179:
1155:
1133:
1126:
1097:
1086:
1060:
1046:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1024:
969:African darter
938:
935:
896:data deficient
849:
846:
840:and the large
822:in the lake),
753:L. intermedius
721:L. gorgorensis
679:L. platydorsus
639:L. longissimus
612:species flocks
600:
597:
572:
569:
552:
549:
541:Zege Peninsula
539:There is also
435:Daga Estifanos
431:Narga Selassie
423:Kebran Gabriel
340:
337:
256:
255:
246:
242:
241:
223:
217:
216:
213:
212:
209:
205:
204:
201:
197:
196:
193:
189:
188:
185:
181:
180:
177:
173:
172:
169:
168:
163:
156:
155:
150:
142:
141:
124:
116:
115:
108:12.000; 37.250
83:
77:
76:
71:
67:
66:
57:
56:
49:
48:
42:
41:
40:
39:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1513:
1502:
1499:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1466:Amhara Region
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1440:
1439:
1434:
1429:
1428:"Tsana"
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1406:
1403:
1401:
1397:
1393:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1382:
1380:
1377:
1376:
1365:
1361:
1358:
1352:
1336:
1330:
1323:
1318:
1311:
1305:
1298:
1292:
1290:
1282:
1281:
1277:
1274:
1267:
1265:
1263:
1261:
1259:
1250:
1244:
1240:
1233:
1231:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1223:
1221:
1219:
1217:
1215:
1213:
1211:
1209:
1207:
1200:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1187:Paul B. Henze
1183:
1168:
1167:
1159:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1140:
1138:
1129:
1123:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1104:
1102:
1095:
1090:
1074:
1070:
1064:
1056:
1050:
1043:
1038:
1036:
1031:
1023:
1021:
1017:
1013:
1009:
1006:There are no
1004:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
986:
982:
978:
974:
970:
966:
961:
959:
955:
947:
943:
934:
932:
928:
927:Lake Victoria
924:
920:
916:
912:
908:
903:
901:
897:
893:
889:
885:
881:
877:
873:
865:
861:
860:
854:
845:
843:
839:
838:
837:G. dembeensis
833:
832:
827:
826:
821:
818:
814:
810:
809:stone loaches
806:
805:
800:
799:
794:
793:
788:
787:
782:
777:
775:
771:
767:
766:
761:
760:
755:
754:
749:
748:
743:
742:
737:
733:
732:
727:
723:
722:
717:
713:
712:
707:
703:
702:
697:
693:
692:
687:
686:
681:
680:
675:
674:
669:
668:
663:
662:
657:
654:are strictly
653:
652:
647:
646:
641:
640:
635:
634:
629:
628:
623:
622:
617:
613:
610:
606:
596:
594:
590:
586:
577:
568:
564:
562:
558:
548:
546:
542:
537:
535:
531:
527:
523:
519:
514:
512:
508:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
456:
452:
451:Paul B. Henze
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
428:
424:
420:
415:
412:
408:
404:
399:
395:
393:
386:
381:
374:
369:
361:
353:
345:
336:
334:
329:
327:
323:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
301:Amhara Region
299:. Located in
298:
294:
290:
286:
283:; previously
281:
280:T’ana ḥāyik’i
275:
266:
262:
254:
250:
247:
243:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:
164:
161:
157:
154:
151:
149:
143:
140:
136:
132:
128:
125:
123:
117:
112:
84:
78:
75:
72:
68:
46:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1436:
1356:
1351:
1339:. Retrieved
1337:. IUCN. 2019
1329:
1317:
1309:
1304:
1296:
1271:
1238:
1190:
1182:
1171:. Retrieved
1165:
1158:
1146:
1109:
1089:
1077:. Retrieved
1072:
1063:
1054:
1049:
1016:Nile monitor
1005:
962:
951:
948:on Lake Tana
930:
919:introduction
914:
904:
883:
875:
869:
857:
835:
829:
823:
819:
813:Nile tilapia
802:
796:
790:
784:
780:
778:
773:
765:L. tsanensis
763:
757:
751:
745:
741:L. osseensis
739:
729:
719:
709:
699:
695:
689:
683:
677:
671:
665:
661:L. dainellii
659:
649:
645:L. megastoma
643:
637:
631:
625:
619:
602:
582:
565:
554:
538:
518:Debre Maryam
515:
471:Yekuno Amlak
467:Christianity
439:Medhane Alem
416:
400:
396:
389:
330:
284:
260:
259:
192:Surface area
139:Gumara River
131:Magech River
1341:18 November
993:kingfishers
937:Other fauna
931:Labeobarbus
915:Labeobarbus
884:Labeobarbus
876:Labeobarbus
859:Labeobarbus
831:G. dembecha
781:Labeobarbus
774:Labeobarbus
736:zooplankton
716:macrophytes
696:Labeobarbus
667:L. gorguari
656:piscivorous
621:Labeobarbus
547:monastery.
545:Azwa Maryam
475:Daga Island
455:Virgin Mary
447:Tana Qirqos
411:James Bruce
392:Pleistocene
309:Gilgel Abay
245:Settlements
231:Daga Island
227:Tana Qirqos
176:Max. length
127:Gilgel Abay
106: /
81:Coordinates
74:East Africa
1486:Nile basin
1450:Categories
1273:Lake Tana.
1173:2021-05-28
1079:4 November
1057:. 1967–68.
1026:References
1010:, but the
1008:crocodiles
1001:Palearctic
923:Nile perch
911:wastewater
892:vulnerable
888:endangered
862:barbs and
825:E. humilis
817:subspecies
770:chironomid
714:mostly on
685:Enteromius
616:Lake Lanao
593:Nile Basin
483:Zara Yaqob
463:Frumentius
407:Portuguese
235:Dek Island
200:Max. depth
184:Max. width
1471:Blue Nile
1456:Lake Tana
907:Bahir Dar
880:Bahir Dar
759:L. nedgia
711:L. surkis
585:Blue Nile
530:Bahir Dar
491:Fasilides
487:Za Dengel
385:Bahir Dar
373:Blue Nile
297:Blue Nile
274:romanized
261:Lake Tana
249:Bahir Dar
153:Blue Nile
135:Reb River
58:Lake Tana
22:Lake Tana
1392:Archived
1276:Archived
1239:The Nile
1110:The Nile
973:hamerkop
954:mollusks
856:Various
726:molluscs
609:cyprinid
561:alkaline
511:Briguida
339:Overview
293:Ethiopia
166:Ethiopia
70:Location
1435:(ed.).
872:fishing
701:L. beso
605:endemic
534:Gorgora
507:Halimun
499:Mitraha
479:Dawit I
276::
265:Amharic
253:Gorgora
239:Mitraha
221:Islands
94:37°15′E
1362:
1245:
1197:
1124:
1020:Hippos
977:storks
958:sponge
658:, and
627:Barbus
489:, and
317:Gumara
269:ጣና ሐይቅ
237:, and
91:12°0′N
1431:. In
989:ducks
894:) or
706:algae
691:Garra
571:Fauna
532:with
459:Egypt
285:Tsana
160:Basin
1360:ISBN
1343:2019
1243:ISBN
1195:ISBN
1122:ISBN
1081:2013
1014:and
995:and
985:ibis
900:IUCN
820:tana
801:and
762:and
688:and
676:and
648:and
599:Fish
526:Axum
509:and
443:Rema
322:weir
315:and
289:lake
1398:at
1114:doi
890:or
734:on
495:Dek
441:of
405:(a
313:Reb
291:in
1452::
1288:^
1257:^
1205:^
1189:,
1136:^
1120:.
1100:^
1071:.
1034:^
991:,
987:,
983:,
979:,
975:,
971:,
967:,
960:.
844:.
834:,
828:,
795:,
789:,
750:,
728:,
718:,
708:,
670:,
664:,
642:,
636:,
557:pH
513:.
505:,
501:,
497:,
485:,
481:,
437:,
433:,
429:,
425:,
311:,
271:,
267::
251:,
233:,
229:,
137:,
133:,
1345:.
1251:.
1176:.
1130:.
1116::
1083:.
1044:.
263:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
