Basaka lake
| Basaka lake | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Lake Basaka with the Awash (right) | ||
| Geographical location | Ethiopia | |
| Drain | none (yet) | |
| Islands | a | |
| Places on the shore | Matahara | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 8 ° 52 ' N , 39 ° 52' E | |
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| Altitude above sea level | 953 m | |
| surface | 42.6 km² | |
| length | 11.3 km | |
| width | 5.1 km | |
| Middle deep | 8 m | |
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particularities |
growing lake, salty |
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Lake Basaka ( Besek'a hayk ) is a lake in central Ethiopia in the north of the Oromia region . Most of it is located in Awash National Park . It currently has an area of about 42 km². Its salinity is so high that its water is unsuitable for irrigating most plants.
chemistry
The lake has an alkaline character (pH 9.6) and a high salt content (3.6 g Na / l; conductivity 10700 µS / cm).
development
The lake is subject to a sharp increase. In the period from 1957 to 2008, its area increased from 3.0 km² to 42.6 km². Based on this development, it will overflow into the Awash River in the north over the next 25 years, threatening parts of the city of Metehara . The spread of salt water will have consequences for groundwater and local agriculture.