Meshaha River
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Meshaha River | |
|---|---|
 West peak, with frost | |
 The Meshaha River is in the north-northwest, near Gondar. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Province | Gondar |
The Meshaha or Mesheha River is a relatively short minor tributary river of the Tekeze that rises in and runs through the Simien Mountains in Gondar province, Amhara, northwestern Ethiopia. It is situated near Ras Dejen, Ethiopia's highest peak, in a valley that is relatively hot and dry compared to the lands above.[1] It is part of a system of westerly ravines relative to Ras Dejen; therefore it drains into the Tekeze River (they all do).[2] At approximately 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) of elevation, it is far below the mountains and plateaus surrounding it and below the treeline [at 3,700 metres (12,100 ft) in the Simien Mountains].[3] The river is extremely active and fast-flowing during the rainy season (mid-June to mid-September).[1][3]
Three villages, Ambikwa, Chiro Leba and Mizma, exist on the slopes of the river valley.[4] A trail winds through it from Bwahit Pass to Dejen Pass.[1][2][3][4]
The river valley is very eroded, steep, and deep, as the Simien Mountains are the result of a dramatic uplifting after a violent volcanic eruption in the area and their landscapes are very eroded and varied in terms of elevation, as is the river valley.[5] As a result, the river was likely created with the massif in the Oligocene and eroded the valley over time after its creation.
The river is within Simien Mountains National Park, which has been a park since 1969 along with Awash National Park, the only two parks in the country until 2006.[6]
