Betqua
Freshwater artificial lake in Ethiopia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Betqua is a reservoir located in the Hintalo Wajirat woreda of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia. The earthen dam that holds the reservoir was built in 1997 by SAERT.[1]
Coordinates13.32473607°N 39.33529336°E
TypeFreshwater artificial lake
Surface area0.137 km2 (0.053 sq mi)
| Betqua | |
|---|---|
| |
  Betqua | |
| Coordinates | 13.32473607°N 39.33529336°E |
| Type | Freshwater artificial lake |
| Basin countries | Ethiopia |
| Surface area | 0.137 km2 (0.053 sq mi) |
| Water volume | 0.666×106 m3 (540 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface elevation | 2,270 m (7,450 ft) |
| Settlements | Hintalo |
Dam characteristics
- Dam height: 16 metres
- Dam crest length: 284 metres
- Spillway width: 20 metres
Capacity
- Original capacity: 666 337 m³
- Dead storage: 133 267 m³
- Reservoir area: 13.7 ha
In 2002, the life expectancy of the reservoir (the duration before it is filled with sediment) was estimated at 23 years.[1]
Irrigation
- Designed irrigated area: 70 ha
- Actual irrigated area in 2002: 25 ha
Environment
The catchment of the reservoir is 1.52 km² large, with a perimeter of 4.82 km and a length of 1520 metres. The reservoir suffers from rapid siltation.[2] The lithology of the catchment is Agula Shale and Mekelle Dolerite[1] Part of the water that could be used for irrigation is lost through seepage; the positive side-effect is that this contributes to groundwater recharge.[3]