Lake Basaka

Lake Basaka is a shallow, saline lake in the Oromia Region of central Ethiopia. It is located in the Great Rift Valley about south east of the capital Addis Ababa. The lake is at an elevation of.

Growth

The salt lake has grown significantly in the past 50 years, growing from in 1957 to in 2008. The lake is growing to the east and northeast due to the local topography.

Impact

Agriculture

Due to the growth of the lake, there is an increasing concern that it will permanently damage the nearby Awash River, which is a major water source for nearby cotton and sugar plantations. These crops have significant economic importance to the region and the whole of Ethiopia. The salinity of the lake is 10.7 dS/m. The water salinity is also affecting the area groundwater as the salinity levels have increased in most plantation sections, and local sugar refineries have reduced production rates due to the loss of growing area.

Population

In 2011, a school succumbed to the growing level of the lake. Highway number 4, the main route between Addis Ababa and Djibouti has a permanent detour that has been constructed since the old highway is submerged. Homes have also been lost due to the expansion. It has been predicted that in 20–30 years, the town of Metehara will be displaced along with 21,000 citizens.