Lake Tsana - Definition and Overview

Lake T'ana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. It is approximately 84 km long 66 km wide and is located in the country's north-west highlands (Lat 12° 0' North, Lon 37° 15' East). Greatest depth is 15 m, over 3000 km² in area at an elevation of 1800 m.

Islands in the lake have been inhabited for over 500 years by monks from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The remains of ancient Ethiopian emperors and treasures of the church are kept in the isolated island monasteries.

External links

• Photographs of the lake (http://www.galen-frysinger.org/blue_nile_ethiopia.htm)
• Unesco plan for Lake T'ana (http://www.unesco.org/culture/heritage/tangible/ethiopia/html_eng/tana.shtml)