Ganale Doria River Explained

Ganale Doria River
Mouth Location:Jubba River
Mouth Coordinates:4.1784°N 42.0801°W
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Ethiopia
Length:858km (533miles)

The Ganale Doria River (Somali: Webiga Janaale) (also transliterated as Genale Dorya) is a perennial river in southeastern Ethiopia. Rising in the mountains east of Aleta Wendo, the Ganale flows south and east to join with the Dawa at the border with Somalia to become the Jubba. The river's tributaries include the Welmel, Weyib (also known as Gestro), Dumale, Doya, Hawas and the Hambala. The Del Verme Falls is a notable feature of its middle course.

According to materials published by the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency, the Ganale has a total length of 858km (533miles), of which 480km (300miles) are inside that country.[1] The Ethiopian Ministry of Water Resources, describes the catchment area of the Ganale Dorya-Dawa river basin as 171050km2 in size, with an annual runoff of, and specific discharge of per square kilometre.[2] The catchment area is estimated as having the potential to irrigate 1070km2, and to generate 9270 gigawatt-hours per year.[3]

The river Ganale was renamed Ganale Doria by the Italian explorer Vittorio Bottego after the Italian biologist Giacomo Doria.[4]

The Genale Doria is historically important because it served as the boundary between Sidamo and Bale Provinces. The confluence of the Ganale Doria with the Dawa is notable as the starting point for the boundary between Ethiopia and Kenya to the west, and the starting point for the boundary between Ethiopia and Somalia to the east.[5] In 1936, the Battle of Genale Doria was fought to the south of the river's course.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=184&format=raw&Itemid=466 "Climate, 2008 National Statistics (Abstract)"
  2. http://www.mowr.gov.et/attachmentfiles/Downloads/Water%20Sector%20Development%20Program%20Vol.2.doc "Water Sector Development Program: Main Report, Volume II"
  3. http://www.mowr.gov.et/rbmpofetiopiatblparametrs.htm "Nature and Features of the Ethiopian River Basins: Table 6.1, Simple Parameters Indicating the Potential of the Basin"
  4. V. Bottego, Il Giuba esplorato, Rome, 1895; A. Donaldson Smith, Through unknown African Countries, London, 1897; I. N. Dracopoli, Through Jubaland to the Lorian Swamp, London, 1914; C. Citerni and L. Vannutelli, L'Omo. Viaggio di esplorazione nell'Africa orientale, Milan, 1899; Regio Governo della Somalia Italiana, Il Giuba, Turin, s. a. [1926]; id., La Vallata del Giuba, Turin, s. a. [1927]; Commissariato generale dell'Oltre Giuba, Notizie sul territorio di riva destra del Giuba, Rome, 1927.
  5. See, for example, "Ethiopia – Kenya Boundary", U.S. State Department International Boundary Study, No. 152 – October 15, 1975