Others Attraction Areas

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Hotsprings

Natural Hot Spring

The natural hot springs are very rare on the earth. But in the southern rift Valley areas, natural hot springs are available in different places. The chemical contents of the hot springs are highly valued for their therapeutic purposes. It is considered as one of the most ideal & amazing place for both domestic & foreign tourists.

Important Bird Areas

The SNNPRS is fascinating region which is remarkable for its diverse plant and wildlife species. The region also endowed with diverse & peculiar (endemic) bird life. The most marvelous & recommended areas in the region for bird watchers include:-

- The rift valley lakes (Hawass, Chamo, Abaya & Rudolf Lakes)

- The national parks (Nechsar, Mago, Omo, Chebera Churchura, Maze, GibeSheleko & Loka Abaya National parks)

- The highland massifs (Mogo, Guge, Garamba, &, Ambercho mountains)

- The dense forest areas of Keffa, Sheka & Benchimaji zones

- Lake Boyo in Hdeya zone.

However, over 50% of all bird species have been recorded in the rift valley lake areas because of numerous aquatic & terrestrial habitats. The endemic bird of region include

Wattled Ibis
White-winged cliff-chat.
Black-headed forest Oriole
Thick-billed Raven
Black winged lovebird

The best season for bird watching is from the beginning of September up to February. Between November & February migrant birds raise the bird population and widen species diversity as well.

Lakes

The Southern Nation Nationality and Peoples Regional States SNNPRS Natural Attraction Areas

The SNNPRS has Natural attractions and an opportunity to attract many tourists around the world. Among the amazing natural tourist attractions of the regions is rift Valley, which is part of the famous east African rift valley. The valley passes through the southern region. It is the result of two parallel faults in the earth’s surface in distant geological times. The resultant effect of nature created many physical features in the region. Therefore these places could be great & unique tourist resources of the region. Some of which has embraced numerous rugged mountains, beautiful lakes , numerous species of birds, aquatic animals, wild animals, rivers, caves & natural hot springs.

Lake Hawassa

Lake Hawassa, which is located about 275 km South of Addis Ababa. Its altitude varies from 680 meters to about 2940 meters above sea level and has total area, including the catchments area of 94 square kilometers. The lake has 16 Kilometers length, 9 Kilometers width and its maximum depth is 22 meters. Boating on the Hawassa Lake is an excellent chance to tourists to see the length & width of the lake in all direction and spectacular view of the sunset.

The lake with its mountainous background makes it one of the Ethiopian beautiful lakes. It is extremely rich in avifauna diversity and population than any other water bodies in the country .Many species of resident and migratory birds thrive on the lake and the surrounding vegetation. A grassy shore of the surrounding lake is convenient for walking, sightseeing and bird watching. A regular hobby for which the lake is famous, with its abundance of Storks and Herons ,mingling with kingfishers, Darters, Plovers, Wild ducks, Egyptian goose ,Crakes, and Cormorants, which create a colorful spectacle.

Amora Gedel

The lake side park called "amora Gedel", has very pretty views across the lake and the mountains beyond. It has got its name after the flock of Pelicans, Marabou’s stork, Hammer kop, Kingfisher and other birds soaring over the ground of the lake shore in search of fish lift over. Boats can be hired from local boat service providers based at the shore of the lake to visit the lake and surroundings, hippos as well as wetland birds.

Lake Abaya

Lake Abaya is situated 503km south of Addis-Ababa via Wolaita sodo to Arbaminch town. It is the second largest lake in Ethiopia; it has 1,160 km2surface areas, with a length of 60 km and a maximum depth of 13 meters. The elevations are around 1235 masl.

Lake Chamo

Lake Chamo is approximately 26 kilometers long, with maximum depth of 10 meters and elevation of 1108 meter high. Many seasonal rivers are empting to the lake the major one is Kulfo River. Its surface area is 551km2 depending on season & rain fall. One of the indications is innumerable Nile crocodile and hippos in & around. Some crocodile have length of reaching up to 8 meters. Crocodile seek the warmth of the sun on the shore of Lake Chamo and they are so numerous so that the place is known as «crocodile market». Boating on the rift valley lakes is an excellent chance to tourists to see the length & width of the lake in all direction and spectacular view of the sunset.

Hare-Shetan Creater Lake

It is found 143km from south of Addis Abeba, 164 km from Hawassa. It has an elevation of 2192 masl .This deep and encircled lake is nested with in sheer of 120m high with a diameter of 880 m and a depth of about 50m. Which it has very attractive environment with dense natural forests and diversified biodiversity. This site is very near to the main road of Addis Ababa to Hossana. It is amazing tourist attraction.

Lake boyo

Lake Boyo is situated in SNNPRS in Hadya zone. It is located in Shashego wereda ,Molicho kebele, via Hossana Butajira road, after driving 22 km. The lake covers an area of 3200 ha. Lake boyo is the best place for bird watchers.

Major Lakes

*No.*	*Lake*	*Location*	*Area (sq.km)*	*Max. depth (m)*	*Altite*
1	Abaya	Gamo Gofa /Wolayta Zones	1160	13	1169
2	Chamo	Gamo Gofa Zone	551	10	1108
3	Turekana	Debub Omo zone	250-2000		500
4	Rudolf	Debub Omo zone		20	376
5	Hareshetan	Silte
6	Boyo	Hadeya

Rivers

Major River Basins

No	*River*	*Origin*	*Destination*	*Zones Crossed*
1	Gibe	Gurage	Debube Omo, Lake Rudolf	Oromiya NRS, Guraghe, Kemebata Tembaro, Kaffa, Shaka, Wolayta, Gamo Gofa ,Dawro, Benech Maji, Debub Omo, Konta, Konso
2	Gojeb	Kaffa	River Omo	KemebataTembaro, Wolayita, Dawro, KONTA Kaffa, Shaka, Dawro
3	Mago	Debub Omo Highlands	River Omo	Debub Omo
4	Segen	Segen area peoples	Lake Rudolf	Zones of Oromiya R.S, Konso, Debub Omo
5	Weito	Gamo Gofa	Segen River	Debub omo, Gamo Gofa
6	Akobo	Bench Maji	River Baro (Sobat)	Bench Maji, Ethio-Sudan Border
7	Dima	Bench Maji	Akobo River	Bench Maji
8	Muwi	Bench Maji	River Omo	Bench Maji
9	Kibish	Bench Maji	River Omo	Bench Maji
10	Gelana	Gedeo	Lake Abaya	Gedeo-Amaro
11	Wabe	Guraghe	Ghibe	Guraghe
12	Walga	Oromiya	Ghibe	Guraghe
13	Meki	Guraghe	Lake Ziway	Guraghe
14	Bilate	Kemebata Tembaro Wolayita	Lake Abaya	Kemebata Tembaro Wolayta, ., Alaba, Hadiya
15	Gejet	Bench Maji	Gilo	Bench Maji
16	Beko	Kaffa , Shaka	Gilo	Bench Maji
17	Dijo	Guraghe	Lake Shala	Guraghe

Waterfalls

The Ajora waterfalls

These Waterfalls are the most beautiful and attractive water falls in the region. These falls found between Wolita and KembatatembTmbaro zones .It lays to the west of the main asphalt road that runs from Addis Ababa to Wolita Sodo through Hossana. It is 52 kms drive from Wolita Wsodo and 46 kms from Durame town. The twin falls on the right is Ajacho and on the left is Soke which merges at the floor of gorge by falling above 200 mts of height and form Ajora river that finally drains into Omo river. It is very impressive to visit the fall and deep gorge formed rather they merged.

Barta water fall

It Is an enjoyable water fall which is situated in Kaffa zone near to Bonga town which is about 30 minutes walk to the left of the town across rugged & dense forest inhabited by diverse types of birds .The fall bursts down from about 120mts height . A beautiful rain bow casts over the steep cliff & ravine.

Sheksheko water fall & cave

This an entertaining water fall & cave is situated in Sheka zone in Masha worda which lies left to the main road that runs from Masha to Gore town. It is about 676 kms from Addis Ababa and 951 kms from Hawassa. To visit this interesting water fall one has to travel 8km from Masha town by vehicle and 40 minutes walk on foot to the left of the main road. Beyond the water fall, there is an amazing natural cave and the surrounding dense forests make the site very spectacular and unforgettable memories.