AppendixA - Land Regions PDF

Appendix A
Site Investigation Manual - 2002 Land Regions of Ethiopia
APPENDIX A LAND REGIONS OF ETHIOPIA
Figure A-1: Land Regions of Ethiopia
USE OF BRACKETS IN DESCRIBING DIMENSIONS OF TERRAIN FEATURES
Brackets are used to indicate dimensions falling outside the normal range but nonetheless
occurring fairly frequently. For example, hills rising (50-) 100 – 150 (-200) m from a plain
are generally 100 – 150 m high, but are often as low as 50 m or as high as 200 m. Another
bracketed number placed outside the first indicates an extreme value, e.g. (30-) (50-) 100 –
150 m shows that 30 m is he lowest hill likely to be encountered.
Ethiopian Roads Authority Page A-1

Appendix A
Land Regions of Ethiopia Site Investigation Manual - 2002
1. Afar Quaternary Sediments
Rainfall: 400 – 600 mm per annum, getting rapidly wetter to the southwest.
Geology: Mixed rocks. Quaternary sediments (sands, conglomerates, fine soils and reef
lime stones) and Quaternary volcanics, mainly basalts with associated cinder
cones. Locally, sediments appear to be thin, overlying volcanic rocks.
Landscape: Vast plains of alluvia and volcanic rocks. The sediments have many shallow,
dry drainage channels flowing downslope (in the south, towards the Awash
River). The lavas show similar stream patterns, frequently interrupted by NE
– SW faulting.
Altitude: 350 – 700m on plains. Up to 1300m on volcanoes (one peak of 2145 m).
Relief: Up to 50 (200)m on plains (flat). Up to 600m on hills (hilly- mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Moderate to high
Drainage
Pattern: Parallel (sub-parallel and dendritic). Locally controlled by faulting.
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably mostly lithosols and aridisols. The fans
possibly yield coarse gravels. The Awash Valley probably contains extensive
areas of hydromorphic soils.
2. Angereb Plain
Rainfall: 700 – 800 mm pa
Geology: Tertiary basalt lavas; Quaternary and recent sediments.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Probably undulating plainland, locally hilly.
Relief: Not known. Probably not more than 50m (flat).
Drainage
Density: Low to moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic
Soils: Not known in detail. Lithosols, with hydromorphic soils along the floor of
the Angereb Valley.
Page A-2 Ethiopian Roads Authority

Appendix A
3. Asmara Escarpment
Rainfall: 200 – 500 mm pa. In the extreme north the rainfall rises to 1000 mm.
Geology: Precambrian basement complex. A wide variety of metamorphosed

sedimentary rocks, mostly fine grained. Granite and gneiss in the north.
Landscape: Steep, highly-dissected hill slopes, straight-sided, with narrow V-shaped

valley bottoms and narrow ridge crests. Natural route alignments confined to
stream directions. Few or no gentle slopes.
Altitude: 200 – 3000 m above sea level.
Relief: 700 – 1200 m (mountainous).
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear or sub-dendritic. Main streams flow NE toward the Red Sea;
tributary streams flow at right angles to the main streams, following NNW-
SSE structure.
Soils: ? Quartzitic mineral soils at the top of the escarpment; lithosols towards the
bottom.
4. Asmara Plateau
Geology: A variety of metamorphic rocks, particularly slates, phyllites and quartzite

with associated lavas and limestones. Granite (in the west) and three large
areas of basalt around Aksum, Enticho and south of Asmara.
Landscape: Variable. In the north, undulating upland plains with local areas of high relief
and intense dissection. Hilly and highly dissected land increases towards the
south.
Altitude: Up to 2300 m above sea level.
Relief: 100 – 150 m. (Rolling to hilly; locally flat).
Drainage
Density: Moderate – high (- very high).
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic with mainly east to west flow.

Appendix A
Soils: Not known in detail. Quartzitic meneral soils, aridisols and lithosols (more
towards the south). Local occurrences of vertisols associated with the Mareb
River.
5. Babile Gneisses
Geology: Basement Complex gneisses and granites. A few tabular outcrops of

limestone near Harar and Bombas. Rare basic intrusive rocks.
Landscape: Broad, sweeping valleys with small stream crossings and high, rocky hill
masses, sometimes isolated, but often very extensive, forming undulating
uplands.
Relief: Up to 300 m around hills, less than 100 m in valleys (Flat-rolling).
Drainage
Density: Low
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Main valleys sub-parallel, flowing to the south.
Soils: Quartzitic mineral soils and lithosols, giving poor and rare deposits of
engineering gravel. Rock on hills. Rare basaltic dykes sometimes yield
gravels. One known example of basic intrusion near Fafan.
6. Bako Complex
Rainfall: Apparently a wide range, from 1600 mm to at least 2000 mm pa, the higher
rainfall concentrating in an area to the south of Bako.
Geology: Mostly Basement Complex gneisses(?). A few remnant plateaux of Tertiary

basalts; Quaternary sediments in the major valleys and around the periphery.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Steep sided, very deep valleys with narrow floors.
Probably few level areas; severe problems of road alignment.
Relief: Up to 1700 m on hills (hilly – mountainous). Up to 100 m on plains (flat).

Soils: Not known in detail. Lithosols, with oxisols on gentler slopes, merging into
quartzitic mineral soils and aridisols in drier areas, particularly towards the
south.

Appendix A
7. Bale Mountains
Geology: Basalts and tuffs in the east; rhyolites in the western (higher) parts.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Broad, rolling high moorlands with many minor
streams, with steeper, dissected margins. Very wide sweeping valleys with
low relief.
Relief: Probably less than 100 m in broad valleys (flat). 1000 – 1500 m on
mountains (rolling – hilly, locally mountainous).
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Radial off moorlands (sub-parallel in detail); sub-parallel in valleys (minor
streams to major stream).
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably mostly lithosols, with local areas of black soils
in valley bottoms and poorly drained areas.
8. Barka Lowland
Rainfall: Variable. 100 mm pa in the north, increasing to 400 mm in the south.
Geology: Precambrian granite and metamorphic rocks (slates, phyllites and schists)
form the hills; Quaternary sediments form the plains.
Landscape: Very extensive pediment-like plains gently sloping from hills to main
streams, with many small sub-parallel stream channels. Hills, isolated or in
clumps, rise abruptly from these plains.
Relief: Less than 50 m on the plains (flat); up to at least 150 m on the hills (hilly –
mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Moderate, locally high.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Sub-parallel in detail (minor streams).
Soils: Aridisols, with vertisols in poorly drained areas. Rock and lithosols in the
north, and alluvium associated with the Barka River.

Appendix A
9. Baro Plains
Rainfall: 900 – 1200 mm pa, decreasing from east to west.
Geology: Undifferentiated Quaternary sediments.
Landscape: Flat or very gently undulating plains at the eastern end, with wide, poorly
drained alluvial flats associated with major rivers, which coalesce towards the
west to give a vast, level alluvial plain with many watercourses and
abandoned channels.
Altitude: 405 – 435 m (845 m above sea level at eastern edge).
Relief: Mostly 0 m. Up to 50 (-250) m at eastern edge.
Drainage
Density: Moderate in east, becoming high towards the west.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Meandering and more disorganised towards the west.
Soils: Not known in detail. Fine grained aridisols (possibly of alluvial origin) and
quartzitic mineral soils on higher ground towards the east. The west consists
or riverine alluvium and hydromorphic soils, frequently swampy near the
Baro River and becoming increasingly so towards the west.
10. Blue Nile Basement Complex
Rainfall: 1400 – 1500 mm pa.
Geology: Mainly Precambrian gneisses.
Landscape: Undulating and hilly land descending from the volcanic plateaux to the Blue
Nile. Few broad valleys or natural weaknesses for road location; many small
hills and narrow valleys.
Relief: Up to 100 m but probably less normally (probably hilly).
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear; locally coarsely dendritic. Most streams are structurally
controlled.
Soils: Lithosols.

Appendix A
11. Blue Nile Sediments
Rainfall: 1000 – 1300 mm pa. Markedly drier (and hotter) towards the center of the
gorge.
Geology: Variable detrital and marly limestones near the top of the gorge, over gypsum
and shale beds lower down, over Adigrat sandstones towards the river.
Landscape: Undulating and hilly land between the basalt plateaux to north and south, and
the Blue Nile River. Very broken terrain making route location difficult.
Steep slopes at the top of the gorge with cliffed margins to the plateaux.
Relief: Very variable. Locally up to 100 m, but totals of 400 – 1000 m occur (hilly
mountainous). Up to 600 m in middle and upper reaches of Guder Valley
(flat-hilly).
Drainage
Density: Moderate to high
Drainage
Pattern: Sub-parallel and dendritic.
Soils: Vary according to position in the gorge. Near the top are deep accumulations
of black and brown soils, mixed with weathered basalt and some limestone
debris, creeping downslope under gravity, poorly drained and liable to
slippage. Lower down the gorge soils thin out to lithosols.
12. Blue Nile Traps
Rainfall: 1000 – 1500 mm pa. Probably much drier (and hotter) at the center of the
gorge.
Geology: Tertiary basalts and tuffs.
Landscape: The great gorge and plateau system forming the headwaters of the Blue Nile
and its tributaries. Flat or gently undulating plateaux plunge abruptly into
extremely deep gorges. The gorges are steep sided and form an intricate
pattern of V-shaped valleys, exceptionally difficult to traverse by road.
Relief: Less than 100 (-200) m on the plateaux (flat – rolling). 500 – 1300 m in
gorges (hilly - mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Moderate on plateaux. Very high in gorges.
Drainage
Pattern: Sub-parallel in detail. Dendritic overall.
Soils: Brown soils on plateaux with vertisols in poorly drained areas. Conditions in
the gorges vary. Lithosols and brown soils on slopes, with pockets of black
soils in poorly drained hollows. Probably local accumulations of deeper soils
(by gravity), poorly drained and liable to slip. In the valley bottoms of the
upper gorges (Wegel Tena area) are very deep (20 – 30 m) accumulations of
alluvial gravels (weathered basalt debris in a fine matrix) which are stable but
liable to erode easily. Abundant weathered basalt gravel, mostly of poor
quality.

Appendix A
13. Borena Massif
Rainfall: 500 – 800 mm pa, becoming drier from NW to SE.
Geology: Wide variety of Pre-cambrian rocks; gneisses, schists and sandstones, ultra-
basic rocks, granites. Local Tertiary basalts.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Hilly uplands, fairly well dissected by many small
streams. Deep valleys at the periphery.
Altitude: 1000 – 2100 m above seal level.
Relief: 150 (-200) m on plateaux (flat to rolling). Up to 800 m in hills (rolling to

hilly).
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Dawa Parma and Genale Rivers originate from this massif.
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably a variety of material types, depending on relief
and climate. Lithosols on high ground, aridisols in lower, drier parts towards
the southeast. Probably quartzitic mineral soils are associated with the latter.
Very extensive areas of riverine alluvium associated with the upper Dawa
Parma and Genale Rivers.
14. Burgi Complex
Rainfall: 800 – 1000 (-1200) mm pa, getting rapidly wetter in the north.
Geology: Tertiary basalts, mainly in the south, with basement complex gneisses.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Northern end dominated by the Amaro Mountains, a
high steep ridge moderately dissected by parallel streams flowing at right
angles to the ridge. Southern end is a complex area of fairly deeply (?)
dissected hills.
Relief: 50 – 10 m (probably rolling to hilly).
Drainage
Density: Moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.

Appendix A
Soils: Not known in detail. Lithosols and quartzitic mineral soils, with brown soils
in the volcanics, in the higher and wetter parts near Lake Chamo; aridisols in
the drier areas to the south.
15. Central Afar Volcanics
Rainfall: Less than 200 to about 400 mm pa.

Geology: Mainly basalts, with subordinate tuffs, acid lavas and acid domes. Local
cinder cones. Quaternary sediments (sand, conglomerates, fine materials) in
depressions.
Landscape: A vast area of volcanic rock, intensely faulted into numerous parallel plateau
and scarp features. The faulting has also produced a large number of basins
and troughs, some of them many kilometers across, now filled with
Quaternary sediments. Volcanic domes and cones are locally common.
Faulting south of the latitude of Lake Abbe is NNE – SSW. North of that
latitude, travelling east to west, the fault directions swing from east-west to
NNW – SSE. These directions could strongly influence route alignments.
Altitude: 100 – 800 m (plains). Up to 2000 m on volcanoes.
Relief: Mostly less than 100 m (flat). Up to 900 m on volcanoes and at the edges of
large fault troughs (hilly – mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Moderate. Stream channels are restricted mostly to fault troughs.
Drainage
Pattern: Mostly parallel (fault controlled); also sub-parallel or dendritic.
Soils: Rock and rock debris, desert detritus, clay plains, locally extensive sabkha
plains (halomorphic soils), and pockets of aridisols. Volcanic cinders occur
locally but are not common.
16. Central Shewa Plateau
Rainfall: 800 – 1200 mm pa. The rainfall increases from SE to NW.
Geology: Tertiary acid volcanics (rhyolites, ignimbrites, agglomerates).
Landscape: An undulating plateau, gradually dropping in altitude towards the SE, with
isolated major volcanoes and groups of cinder cones.
Relief: Less than 50 m on plains (flat). Up to 400 (-1100) m on hills (hilly –

mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Moderate. Locally high.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.

Appendix A
Soils: Brown soils in wetter areas, associated with black soils in poorly drained
areas, particularly the broad valley floors and plains. Lithosols in steeper and
drier parts, becoming dominant towards the SE. Weathered lavas give local
sources of gravel, as do cinder cones when present.
17. Chercher Escarpment
Rainfall: 600 – 1000 mm pa. Rainfall rises rapidly with altitude.
Geology: Tertiary volcanics (basalt and tuff).
Landscape: The SE escarpment of the Rift Valley. A long narrow range of hills
descending 500 – 1000m to the plains on the southern side, and 1000 –
1500m in a succession of steps (downfaulted blocks) to the Afar Depression.
Deep main valleys flow down at right angles to the ridge; V-shaped minor
valleys flow at right angles to the main valleys, picking out the fault structure.
Road location very difficult and restricted to natural weaknesses in the terrain.
Relief: Up to 500 to 1000 m (hilly – mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Very high.
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear; streams strongly influenced by structure.
Soils: Lithosols; some brown soils locally. Black soils in valleys and poorly drained
hollows. Abundant gravels (weathered basalt), mostly of poor quality.
18. Chercher Plateau
Rainfall: Wide range. About 350 mm pa in the east to 1200 mm in the west.
Geology: Variable. Mostly Jurassic sediments (mainly limestones) forming the very
extensive plains. Precambrian granites and gneisses in the bottom of the deep
main valleys, and small amounts of basalt lavas in the west and the extreme
east (upland plateaux).
Landscape: Immense flat plains, severely dissected by an intricate pattern f deep, steep-
sided gullies and gorges. Local relief probably in the form of tabular hills and
higher plateaux.
Relief: Up to 100 m on plateaux (flat -rolling). Up to 500 m across major river
valleys, and at borders with highlands (rolling-hilly).
Drainage
Density: Low or very low on the plateaux; high and very high in the vicinity of major
river valleys. The porous nature of the rocks accounts for this. Apparently
little affected by rainfall.

Appendix A
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Major valleys are very abrupt and steep sided, and intensely
dissected. Minor valleys are very short and steep. Probably very difficult to
cross major valleys. This land region contains all the headwater tributaries of
the Wabi Shebelle River.
Soils: Not known in detail. Aridisols.
19. Danakil Alps

Geology: Mixed Precambrian metasediments and granite in the center and north of the
mountain range, with Jurassic limestones around the Precambrian core.
Landscape: An intricately-dissected range of mountains rising from the floor of the Afar
Depression. Probably very difficult to cross by road, having few natural
corridors.
Relief: 250 – 500 m (probably hilly – mountainous.)
Drainage
Density: High, although streams rarely flow.
Drainage
Pattern: Sub-parallel to poorly dendritic in detail. Streams frequently controlled by
structure.
Soils: Not known in detail. Lithosols and aridisols.
20. Danakil Depression

Geology: Mostly basalts; some more acid lavas and domes. Quaternary sediments of
conglomerates, sands and fine materials; locally very extensive salty and
gypsiferous lagoonal deposits (sabkhas). Many of the lavas have abundant
cinder cones.
Landscape: A huge shallow basin, filled with alluvia and lavas. In the south and north are
wide areas of rocky plateaux (fresh lava), with no stream courses but with
original surface convolutions, probably very difficult to cross. Around the
margins are great areas of (probably mixed) alluvial fans forming a
continuous band to the east and west. These have a very large number of
parallel, dry watercourses. The fans run down to the center of the depression,
now filled with vast deposits of salt, forming sabkha plains, and tracts of
alluvium. The coastal strip shows a similar succession, but without extensive
sabkhas.
Altitude: 125 m below sea level to 2200 m above sea level.
Relief: 0 – 50 m (flat). Lava surfaces have extremely irregular micro-relief. Locally
up to 1000 m on major volcanoes (hilly).
Drainage
Density: No obvious drainage lines on lava surfaces. Very high frequency of small
channels on alluvial fans, emanating from highlands to east and west. Danger

Appendix A
of very rapid flooding in these streams, probably particularly on the western

flank.
Drainage
Pattern: Parallel (on the fans) or poorly dendritic. Concentric overall in the depression
(no outlet to the sea).
Soils: Desert detritus and rock debris in the SE, aridisols in the SW and halomorphic
soils in the north. The latter are frequently highly saline or gypsiferous. The
alluvial fans of the east and west flanks are probably good sources of gravel.
Volcanic cinders available in the cones.
21. Debre Tabor Massif

Geology: Tertiary basalts and tuffs. A small area of Quaternary basalts in the west
(possibly with a few cinder cones).
Landscape: The flanks and lava flows of an old volcano (Mount Guna) now intricately
dissected into a mass of V-shaped valleys, some very deep. An extremely
difficult area to traverse, having no natural weaknesses.
Relief: Up to 500 m (rolling – mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Very high.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic in the west and center. Overall radial around the mountain; sub-
parallel in detail.
Soils: Brown soils on more level areas, vertisols in poorly drained areas, and
lithosols (probably dominant) in gorges and valley sides. Cinders would be
valuable sources of gravel if cones are present.
22. Dessie Escarpment

Geology: Tertiary basalts and tuffs. Quaternary sediments (lithology unknown) in the
great valleys.
Landscape: The western escarpment of the Rift Valley, dropping in innumerable small
step-faults from the watershed at the edge of the Ethiopian Plateau (at Dessie)
to the plains of the Afar Depression. The main valleys run straight
downslope, while the minor valleys follow the fault weaknesses running
parallel with the escarpment edge. The whole is now dissected into very deep
valleys and is extremely difficult to traverse deep valleys and is extremely
difficult to traverse. This simple picture is modified in several places by the
presence of a great valley, running discontinuously along the escarpment at
half height, several kilometres wide and having a flat floor (alluvium).
Altitude: 1000 – 4000 m above sea level. (Lowest point 500 m above sea level).

Appendix A
Relief: Up to 1000 m (hilly – mountainous). Up to 50 m (-200 m on isolated hills)

in great valleys (flat).
Drainage
Density: Very high
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear, strongly controlled by north-south faulting.
Soils: Lithosols. Vertisols and hydromorphic (?) soils on the alluvium of the great
valleys. Very poor drainage and foundations towards the center. Locally
weathered basalts give abundant supplies of good quality gravel (Weldiya –
Chifra Road).
23. Didessa Complex
Geology: Mostly Precambrian gneisses and granites. Schists and quartzites on the
western boundary to the north. Isolated outcrops (summit plateaux?) of
Tertiary basalt.
Landscape: Undulating lowlands with many groups of isolated hills, particularly towards
the north.
Relief: Less than 100 m on plains (flat-rolling). 200 – 700 (-1000) m on hills (hilly -
mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear or poorly dendritic. Rivers strongly controlled by structure. Land
region is divided across the center by the Blue Nile River.
Soils: Mostly lithosols and quartzitic mineral soils. Probably local areas of brown
soils on basalts, associated with black soils in poorly drained areas.
24. Dire Dawa Fault Belt

Geology: Mostly Jurassic limestones, with Adigrat sandstone and shale, and blocks of
Precambrian gneisses.
Landscape: The southern Rift Valley wall bordering the Afar Depression. Intensive step-
faulting parallel with the escarpment causes this land to fall dramatically from
the eastern Ahmar Mountains to the floor of the Depression. Now highly

Appendix A
dissected by small valleys following the faults. The faulting peters out
towards the east.
Relief: Up to 400 m (hilly) [-1500 m NE of Harar (hilly- mountainous)]
Drainage
Density: Moderate to high.
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear. Minor streams follow east-west faulting; major streams flow
north, across the fault belts.
Soils: Rock and lithosols on steep slopes, particularly in the scarp foot zone.
Aridisols further away from the escarpment, to the north. Local
accumulations of coarse alluvium may provide engineering gravels, or
shattered and partially weathered rock. In the basement complex rocks of the
escarpment, dykes of Tertiary (?) basalt occasionally occur that yield gravel.
25. Djibouti Coastal Plain
Geology: Not known in detail but probably Quaternary basalts and ignimbrites, and
Quaternary sediments.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Apparently a plain of very low relief sloping gently
towards the Red Sea, with scattered drainage lines (dry), and some areas bare
lava.
Altitude: 0 – 200 m above sea level. A few hills up to 300 – 500 m.
Relief: Less than 50 m (flat). Locally 100 (-500) m on isolated hills.
Drainage
Density: Very low. Dry riverbeds.
Drainage
Pattern: Poorly dendritic and sub-parallel.
Soils: Transported desert detritus (alluvium). Probably mostly coarse gravels.

Local lithosols. Volcanic cinders available in the few cones present on the far
north.

Appendix A
26. Djibouti Volcanics
Geology: Quaternary basalts and ignimbrites with related cinder cones.
Landscape: Undulating bare lava surfaces with an intricate original surface texture and a
poorly-organized drainage system. Overall slope more or less towards the
Red Sea. Probably difficult to traverse by road.
Relief: Up to 400 m but probably usually much less (flat). Locally up to 1000 (-
1300) m north of Gulf of Tadjoura (Djibouti).
Drainage
Density: Low. Locally moderate and high.
Drainage
Pattern: Irregularly dendritic. Controlled by local rock structure.
Soils: Not known in detail. Rock and rock debris. Apparently a zone of aridisols of
Djibouti. Cinder cones are locally common.
27. East Ogaden Lime stone
Rainfall: Less than 100 mm pa.
Geology: Tertiary limestones. One known occurrence of Tertiary basalt, a small

outcrop 25 km north of Geladi. Possibly others exist.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Apparently a flat, level, almost featureless plain,
traversed occasionally by shallow, sparse, drainage lines.
Relief: More or less flat (flat).
Drainage
Density: Extremely low.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.
Soils: Not known in detail. Aridisols, frequently rich in calcium or gypsum. Rare
basalt rock may be available (low plateaux?)

Appendix A
28. East Ogaden Sandstone
Rainfall: About 150 – 300 mm pa, becoming wetter towards the west.
Geology: Jessoma sandstone (Tertiary). One major outcrop of Tertiary basalt at
Gherlogubi to Werder; possibly others exist. More variable in the north (Jijiga
area), where Quaternary basalts (with cinder cones) and Quaternary sands and
limestones appear.
Landscape: Not known in detail. A featureless plain, sloping extremely gently to the SE,
with occasional shallow drainage lines flowing to the SE. In the west,
towards the Fafan Valley, a series of west-facing low escarpments occur,
parallel to the valley. Drainage flows to the SW and drainage density is much
higher. Drainage apparently poor in many local areas in the escarpment zone
and towards the north.
Relief: More or less flat (flat). Up to 200 m on isolated hills.
Drainage
Density: Extremely low. Moderate (-high) around the western escarpments towards
the Fafan Valley.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, flowing to the SE. Flow is to the SW in the Western escarpment
zone.
Soils: Not known in detail. Aridisols, presumably sandy. Basalt of unknown
condition on the Gherlogubi – Werder Road. Escarpment zone in the west
and north is thought to have many local areas of hydromorphic soils and
vertisols, due to the poor drainage.
29. Fafan Valley
Rainfall: 300 – 800 mm pa, rising rapidly at the northern end.
Geology: Mesozoic limestones of varying lithology.
Landscape: The valley and associated tributaries of the Fafan River. A very broad,
straight river, with a mass of tributaries, flowing parallel or at right-angles to
the main stream, dissecting the area into very many small hills and valleys.
Probably very difficult to traverse. The main valley is broad, flat, and very
poorly drained.
Altitude: 700 – 1790 m above sea level
Relief: More or less flat (-100 m) in main valley (flat). Up to 200 (-600) m around
the valley sides and local larger hills (rolling- hilly).
Drainage
Density: High.
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear, with a dominant SE direction. Locally dendritic, becoming very
much more widespread in the south where the region widens out away from
the confines of the Fafan Valley.

Appendix A
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably mostly aridisols. Fafan Valley poorly drained
and probably has deep alluvium with hydromorphic soils or vertisols.
30. Finchaa Complex
Rainfall: 1400 mm pa.
Geology: Mainly Adigrat sandstone; Tertiary basalts, on high plateaux and Basement
Complex gneisses lower down towards the Blue Nile.
Landscape: A variable landscape of central hills, fairly closely dissected by small streams
(mostly basalts) surrounded by level upland plains (mostly sandstones) with
shallow drainage lines. The southern plains are occupied by very extensive
swampy lands (now partly dammed to form a large reservoir).
Relief: Less than 100 m on plains (flat) to 700 m on hills (rolling – hilly).
Drainage
Density: High in the central hills, becoming moderate or low towards the periphery.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, with some structural control in the NW.
Soils: Brown soils with vertisols and probably hydromoprophic soils in poorly
drained areas, sometimes very extensive. Lithosols on steep slopes, probably
becoming more widespread towards the NW.
31. Genale Basin
Geology: Sandy and clayey Jurassic limestones; shales and gypsum. A large area of
Quaternary basalts (with cinder cones).
Landscape: Not known in detail. Presumably broad, more or less level plateaux dissected
by major rivers with intricate dissection along their courses. A more irregular
and hilly area in the north.
Relief: Less than 100 m on plateaux (flat). Up to 300 (-600) m around large rivers
(rolling – hilly).
Drainage
Density: Moderate in the north, showing probably low on the plateaux and very high
around the major rivers.
Drainage

Appendix A
Pattern: Irregular in the north, showing strong local influences by structure and small
hills. Probably dendritic elsewhere.
Soils: Not known in detail. Aridisols, with extensive areas of alluvium (with
hydromorphic soils?) associated with the Genale and Dawa Parma Rivers.
Cinders available in the volcanic cones.
32. Goba Upland
Rainfall: Variable, 600 – 1200 mm pa, rising towards the NW.
Geology: Tertiary basalt lava flows.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Broad, undulating upland plains, traversed by huge
gorges, flowing to the east. The gorges become more frequent towards the
east. The land region is divided across the center by the great gorge system of
the headwaters of the Wabi Shebelle River.
Relief: (Probably rolling. Mountainous in gorges.)

Drainage
Density: Moderate to high (many minor streams).
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic and sub-parallel.
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably mostly brown soils, with black soils in poorly
drained areas and valley bottoms. Lithosols in gorges.
33. Gojjam Massif
Geology: Tertiary volcanics (basalt, tuff, agglomerate), and Quaternary basalts, locally
with associated cinder cones.
Landscape: The great shield volcanoes of Mangestu Mountains and Chode Mountains,
with their peripheral lava flows. Central mountain masses deeply dissected
by radial systems to V-shaped valleys, grading outwards into undulating
plains with may small streams, locally dissected, giving landscapes of
considerable variety. The land region is bounded on three sides by the Blue
Nile Gorge, the western flan is also abruptly dissected (Didessa complex).
Relief: Up to 300 m on plains (rolling). Up to 900 m on central mountain massifs

(hilly – mountainous).

Appendix A
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic on plains. Sub-parallel in detail on highlands; radial the whole
region.
Soils: Brown soils with local areas of red soils (oxisols) on the plateaux, with
associated vertisols in poorly drained areas. Lithosols in the mountains and
gorges. Cinders available in volcanic cones.
34. Guraghe Highland
Rainfall: 1200 – 1500 mm pa, markedly wetter in the south (Chencha Highlands).
Geology: Mainly Tertiary acid volcanics; rhyolites, tuffs, ignimbrites; some basalts in
the south (Gigole area).
Landscape: A hilly upland dissected by many small streams into rounded landforms,
offering a wide variety of scenery. Steep, deeply dissected margins to the
east and west, particularly on the Rift Valley side. Very difficult to ascend by
road.
Relief: Up to 500 (-1000) m (rolling – hilly -mountainous). Highest relief on the

dissected margins.
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Irregularly dendritic, strongly influenced by north-south fault trends and local
hill relief.
Soils: Lithosols on steep slopes. Brown soils and shallow red soils (transitional type
1 – 2 m deep) elsewhere (Chencha Highlands). More typical oxisols occur
around Hosaina. Locally hydromorphic soils and vertisols exist in poorly
drained valley floors and depressions. Engineering gravels are apparently
infrequent.
35. Hargeisa Shelf
Rainfall: 200 – 400 mm pa, increasing to the south.
Geology: Variable. Mostly Quaternary basalts with associated cinder cones, and sands,
silts and clays. A few Jurassic limestones and Basement Complex gneisses.

Appendix A
Landscape: Almost fresh lava surfaces with a convoluted surface texture and poorly
organised stream pattern of many tiny water-courses. Probably very difficult
to traverse.
Relief: 50 – 100 m on plains (flat). Up to 400 m on hills (rolling – hilly). Probably

extremely irregular micro-relief.
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Roughly dendritic but very irregular (streams controlled by micro-relief).
Dry streambeds.
Soils: Not known in detail. Rock and rock debris, with lithosols locally.
36. Humera Plain
Rainfall: 400 – 550 mm pa, increasing to the south.
Geology: Variable. Mostly Quaternary sediments (sand, conglomerate and reef

limestone). Outcrops of Precambrian granite, Jurassic limestone and Tertiary
basalt.
Landscape: Not known in detail. An undulating plain with shallow minor streams and a
few broad major valleys.
Relief: Up to 50 m (flat).
Drainage
Density: Moderate – low.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, flowing to the west but minor streams are usually dry. Includes the
lower Tekezze River.
Soils: Aridisols, with vertisols in depressions and poorly drained areas. Extensive
areas of hydromorphic soils associated with the Tekezze River Valley.
37. Issas Trough
Rainfall: 100 – 600 mm pa, increasing rapidly to the south.

Geology: Mostly Quaternary sediments (conglomerates, sands, fine soils, reef,
limestone). In the south are extensive Quaternary volcanics (basalts,
ignimbrites).
Appendix A
Landscape: Broad, flat, uninterrupted alluvial plains, sloping away gently to the NW with
wide, dry river channels. Large areas of intricately-dissected bare lava to the
south, cut by broad river channels (wadis). Probably very difficult to traverse
these lavas.
Relief: Probably less than 50 m on the plains (flat). Overall relief the same in the
lava areas, but with highly irregular micro-relief.
Drainage
Density: Low to moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Many tiny wadis (dry channels) in the lava area, with roughly dendritic
drainage much controlled by local relief and faulting. Alluvial plains have a
parallel drainage pattern, flowing NW, but stopping against the lavas of the
central Afar volcanics (inland drainage basin).
Soils: Rock and lithosols on the volcanic rocks; alluvium on the plains, possibly
yielding coarse gravels. The inland drainage basins to the north are possibly
occupied by halomorphic soils.
38. Kaffa Plateau
Rainfall: 1000 – 2200 mm pa. The zone of highest rainfall centers around Bulki.
Geology: Tertiary rhyolites, ignimbrites and basalts.
Landscape: The major upland plateau of SW Ethiopia. Undulating and hilly country,
becoming more dissected towards the south. Contains the headwaters of the
Gibe (Omo) and Gogeb Rivers.
Relief: Up to 200 (-600) (-1000) m [Rolling – hilly (mountainous)].
Drainage
Density: High. Many small streams.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.
Soils: Oxisols, with associated vertisols in depressions and poorly drained areas.
Extensive areas of lithosols on steep slopes. Towards the north the oxisols
thin out and merge into brown soils. South of Mizan Teferi the vertisols are
believed to fade out. Good quality gravels are difficult to find.

Appendix A
39. Kunjara Plain
Geology: Undifferentiated Quaternary sediments, and some outcrops of Tertiary basalt.
Landscape: Not known in detail. A gently undulating lowland with small streams in
shallow valleys. Probably a few basalt plateau remnants.
Relief: Probably less than 100 m. [Flat (-rolling?)]
Drainage
Density: Moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, flowing to the NW. Rivers and streams are not clearly visible on
satellite images and are therefore probably very small.
Soils: Probably aridisols, with vertisols developed along broad valley bottoms.
Presence of engineering gravels not known, but basalt plateaux may yield
weathered basalt gravels.
40. Lake Tana Plain
Geology: Quaternary basalts in the south with associated cinder cones; some Tertiary
basalts. Lacustrine sediments in the north.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Level on undulating plain traversed by small streams
from the surrounding hills. Lava surfaces have cinder cones locally.
Relief: Up to 50 m (flat). Rarely exceeds 100 m.
Drainage
Density: Low
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, but poorly organised on lava surfaces. Many seasonal swamps,
and permanent swamps on the lake shore.
Soils: Lacustrine alluvium with vertisols on poorly drained areas. Local swamp
soils. Brown soils on lava surfaces. Cinder cones locally common (SW of
Bahar Dar).

Appendix A
41. Lower Abbai Complex
Rainfall: 800 – 1700 mm pa, becoming steadily wetter southwards into the hills.
Geology: Mixed Precambrian meta sediments and volcanics, and granites. At least one
pocket of Quaternary sediments in the Blue Nile Valley.
Landscape: Not known in detail. A variety of undulating lands with well-organized

(dendritic) drainage systems associated with major rivers (Blue Nile, Beles,
Dinder and Dabus).
Relief: Up to 50 m (flat). Local ridged hills in the south of at least 150 m (?).
Drainage
Density: Moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Includes several major drainage basins, particularly the lower
course of the Blue Nile.
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably a mixture of quartzitic mineral and brown
soils with aridisols in the drier areas. Vertisols in depressions and poorly
drained areas, particularly in the valley of the Blue Nile where they are
associated with alluvial soils.
42. Lower Tekezze Complex
Rainfall: 500 – 800 mm pa, rising rapidly at the SE margin.
Geology: Precambrian metamorphics (schists, slates and quartzites), and granites.
Landscape: Basin of the lower course of the Tekezze River. A mass of small elongated
ridges and hills oriented in a NE-SW direction, with many minor streams.
Relief: 50 – 200 m (flat-rolling). Locally 500 – 1000 m (hilly – mountainous).
Drainage
Density: High.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, but with a strong NE-SW orientation of tributary streams. The
Tekezze River flows to the NW.

Appendix A
Soils: Aridisols in the north, associated with vertisols in depressions. Lithosols in

the south (on steeper slopes?). Extensive hydromorphic soils associated with
the Tekezze River Plain.
43. Mekdela Massif
Rainfall: 1000 mm pa. 1300 mm pa in the south.
Geology: Tertiary volcanics (rhyolites).
Landscape: Mount Amba Ferit and its surrounding lava fields. The whole massif is now
dissected and consists of a central hill mass with peripheral plateau remnants,
dissected by a radial arrangement of very deep gorges, all tributaries of the
Blue Nile. An exceptionally difficult area to traverse.
Relief: Up to 1200 m (hilly – mountainous). Locally rolling or flat on plateaux.
Drainage
Density: Very high. Moderate on the plateaux.
Drainage
Pattern: Parallel in detail (long ridges between gorges). Radial overall.
Soils: Lithosols in gorges. Brown soils in plateau with vertisols in poorly drained
areas.
44. Mekelle Escarpment
Rainfall: 200 – 500 mm pa, rising with altitude.
Geology: Mixed Precambrian metasediments, and Jurassic limestones.
Landscape: Rift Valley escarpment zone consisting of may ridges and valleys with a
strong north – south orientation (see drainage pattern). Much of the
escarpment is at the foot of the Asmara and Dessie escarpments (north an
south respectively).
Altitude: 200 – 2200 (-3200) m above sea level.
Relief: Up to 1000 m in hills (hilly – mountainous). Less than 100 m in broad

valleys (flat – rolling).
Drainage
Density: High

Appendix A
Drainage
Pattern: Rectilinear, with a strongly dominant N-S element followed by the tributary
streams, due to structural control. Major streams cut in ridges at right angles,
flowing to the east.
Soils: Lithosols on steeper slopes; aridisols elsewhere, particularly towards the

bottom.
45. Mekelle Sediments
Rainfall: 600 – 900 mm pa, getting progressively wetter towards the west.
Geology: Jurassic limestones, shales and sandstones, and some Quaternary sediments
(sands, conglomerates). A few extensive plateau remnants of Tertiary basalt
towards the west.
Landscape: An undulating and hilly upland of considerable variety, becoming more

dissected towards the west into deep valleys.
Relief: Up to 700 m (rolling).
Drainage
Density: Moderate.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.
Soils: Not known. Mostly lithosols on local aridisols.
46. North Central Massif
Rainfall: 700 – 1300 mm pa, wetter in the south.
Geology: Mostly Tertiary basalts and tuffs. SE of Ras Dashan, in the valley of the
Tekesse River, Adigrat sandstone outcrops, and further downstream (to the
north), Precambrian slates, phyllites and dolomites appear.
Landscape: The great dissected upland of central Ethiopia. The entire area is eroded into
deep V-shaped valleys and gorges, arranged in a series of dendritic river
patterns. The largest highland region, and exceptionally severe terrain for the
most part.
Relief: Up to 1100 (-1600) m (hilly – mountainous).

Appendix A
Drainage
Density: Very high.
Drainage
Pattern: Well developed dendritic. The region comprises the headwaters of the
Tekezze and Angereb river systems. In the NW of the region, a north-south
structure imparts a linear element to the stream pattern.
Soils: Mainly lithosols. Probably brown soils on the few existing plateau remnants
(north and NW of Lake Tana.
47. North Shewa Highland
Rainfall: 1000 – 1400 mm pa, becoming wetter towards the west.
Geology: Tertiary basalts and tuffs, and acid lavas (rhyolites).
Landscape: Upland hill masses dissected by many small streams and locally by deep
valleys. Very difficult areas to traverse, but each hill mass is separated by a
lowland gap from the others.
Relief: Up to 500 m (rolling to hilly). Usually less in gaps between hill masses.
Drainage
Density: High.
Drainage
Pattern: Variable. Commonly sub-parallel, when steep slopes or structure influence
stream courses. Dendritic elsewhere.
Soils: Mostly brown soils, with vertisols in poorly drained areas. Extensive areas of
lithosols on steep slopes.
48. North Shewa Plateau
Geology: Tertiary basalts and tuffs with some rhyolites and ignimbrites.
Landscape: A gently rolling upland with broad plains and valleys between rolling hill
masses. Very abrupt northern and eastern margins to the Blue Nile gorges
and the Rift Valley wall.
Relief: Less than 100 m on plains (flat-rolling). Up to 300 (-500) m on hills (hilly).

Appendix A
Drainage
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.
Soils: Brown soils and lithosols on better drained slopes; black soils on the plains
and broad valley bottoms. Locally, weathered basalts provide engineering
gravels of good quality.
49. Omo Highlands
Geology: Acid volcanics (rhyolite, tuff) on the highest parts; basalts lower brown.
Landscape: Very deeply dissected highlands of the Omo and Gogeb rivers, including the
Omo gorge. Few plateau remnants and no natural lines of communication;
and exceptionally difficult area to traverse.
Relief: 1200 – 1800 m (mountainous)
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. The region comprises most of the catchment of the Omo and
Gogeb rivers.
Soils: Mostly lithosols, with areas oxisols or possibly brown soils on gentler slopes
and plateaux.
50. Omo Lowlands
Rainfall: 900 – 2200 mm pa, rising rapidly at the northern end.

Geology: Mostly Quaternary sediments, those in the center of the basins being of
lacustrine origin (probably fine grained). Isolated outcrops of basement
complex gneiss and, in the western Omo basin, Quaternary basalts with
cinder cones.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Two major basins of Omo river and Lake Chew Bahir
(a seasonal lake). Probably gently undulating plains, sloping gently towards
the center of the basin, traversed by shallow drainage lines. Level plains in
the center. Occasional hills.

Appendix A
Relief: More or less flat (flat). Locally up to 100 (-400) m on hills (rolling).
Drainage
Density: Probably moderate. Locally high.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic.
Soils: Not known in detail. A variety of soils and drainage conditions. Areas
peripheral to the two basins are alluvial soils, possibly including gravel
deposits, and some aridisols. Apparently some vertisols in depressions.
Around the Omo river and Lake Chew Bahir are large expanses of
hydromorphic soils, becoming increasingly peaty towards the center with
increasing wetness.
51. Ras Dashan
Geology: Tertiary basalt lavas.
Landscape: The largest ancient volcano of the highlands. A great mountain mass, now
dissected by a series of immense radiating gorges. An exceptionally difficult
area to penetrate or cross.
Relief: Up to 1500 m (hilly to mountainous).
Drainage
Density: Very high.
Drainage
Pattern: parallel in detail; radial overall.
Soils: Lithosols. Probably hydromorphic soils or vertisols in poorly drained valley

floors.
52. Rift Valley Lakes
Rainfall: 800 – 1400 mm pa, being highest around the central lakes (Zwai, Langano,
Abiyata and Shala), and Lake Chamo.
Geology: Tertiary volcanics (rhyolite, basalt, ignimbrite and tuff) with acidic domes
and locally frequent cinder cones, and extensive fine-grained lacustrine
deposits.

Appendix A
Landscape: A variety of contrasting landforms. Level or gently undulating plains

(lacustrine deposits) surrounding the lakes. Undulating old lava surfaces,
sometimes thoroughly faulted into plateau and scarp country, and sometimes
having associated cinder cones. Extensive fan deposits at the foot of
neighboring highlands, and isolated large volcanoes or hill masses. Locally
very difficult to traverse, but usually offering alternative easier terrain.
Relief: Upto100 m, but mainly more or less flat (flat). Up to 400 m on hills.
Drainage
Density: Moderate to low.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, but frequently controlled by faulting.
Soils: A wide variety of material types. Extensive lacustrine deposits, alluvium,

volcanic ash and lithosols. Volcanic cinders are locally abundant in cones.
Brown soils with associated vertisols developed locally in wetter parts (near
the edges of the Rift).
53. South Ahmar Mountains
Geology: Jurassic limestones on the hilltops, overlying Adigrat sandstone. Basement

complex gneisses and metasediments in the valley bottoms. Probably local
outcrops of basalts capping hills in the north.
Landscape: Long ridge-like hills with deep valleys and gorges flowing to the south, the
headwaters of the Wabi Shebelle basin. A very difficult area to traverse,
particularly in an east-west direction.
Relief: 300 – 900 m (hilly – mountainous). Towards the east relief is lower – less
than 100 m – 400 (-700) m. (Flat – hilly).
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, but with a strong north – south trend. Neighbouring valleys are
more or less parallel.
Soils: Not known in detail. Probably mostly lithosols, with quartzitic mineral soils
on gentler slopes and in the valleys.

Appendix A
54. Southern Sidamo Complex
Rainfall: 400 – 700 (-1000) mm pa, rising towards the west. The higher rainfall up
to1000 mm is concentrated SE of Mega.
Geology: Quaternary sediments (undifferentiated) with hills of granite and gneiss,

various metasediments, and limestone (apparently also variable). The
distribution of these hard rocks is not predictable.
Landscape: Not known in detail. Presumably broad, level or gently undulating plains
with hill masses rising abruptly from it.
Relief: Less than 50 m on plains up to 200 m on isolated hills (flat). Up to 650 (-

1100) m around higher hills (rolling – hilly).
Drainage
Density: Probably low.
Drainage
Pattern: Probably dendritic.
Soils: Not known in detail. A variety of materials reflecting a range of rock types.
Mostly aridisols, but probably including local areas of rock, lithosols and
quartzitic mineral soils (particularly on hills) and a variety of alluvial drift
deposits.
55. Southern Sidamo Volcanics
Geology: Tertiary basalts in the north and Quaternary basalts in the south, with
Quaternary sediments (undifferentiated) between.
Landscape: Not known in detail; probably variable. In the north, undulating hilly land,
sloping towards the southern plains. Level plains, with very large areas of
fresh lava fields towards the Kenya border, with associated cinder cones.
Altitude: 80 – 1600 (-2600) m above sea level.
Relief: Not known. Probably undulating county in the north (rolling), and less than
50 m on the plains and lava fields (flat).
Drainage
Density: Probably low.
Drainage
Pattern: Probably dendritic, but diverted by the southern lava fields.

Appendix A
Soils: Lithosols on the northern basalts, aridisols on the central plains, and rock and
rock debris in the southern lava fields. Volcanic cones yield cinder gravels on
the latter.
56. South Ogaden Limestone
Rainfall: 150 – 350 mm pa, becoming wetter towards the west.

Geology: Jurassic limestones, with some marl and sandstone.
Landscape: Two contrasting landscapes. In the centre and east, very extensive undulating
plateaux with edges highly dissected by short, broad, shallow valleys. On the
eastern part these valleys penetrate the plateau, including plateau remnants.
In the west (around El Kere) the rocks become upturned to form a mass of
short, steep ridges and many short drainage channels. This area is very
difficult to traverse.
Relief: Up to 400 m (hilly) around El Kere. Generally much less on the central and
eastern plateau areas – more or less flat (-50m) on plateau (flat); 50 – 100 m
at edges of plateau (rolling).
Drainage
Density: Low on the plateaux, but high in the zones of wedis. High in the El Kere
area.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Very complex dendritic pattern, with local strong orientation of
streams, in the El Kere area.
Soils: Not known in detail. Aridisols. Probably lithosols on steeper slopes.
57. Upper Tekezze Complex
Rainfall: (600-) 900 – 1000 mm pa. Drier north of Mekelle, towards the Rift
escarpment.
Geology: A wide variety of Precambrian rocks; slates, phyllites, limestones, coarse

sediments, and granitic rocks. Local plateau remnants (?) of Tertiary basalt.
Landscape: Essentially the river valley and catchment of the middle and upper reaches of
the Tekezze river. A profusion of steep, elongated, sharp ridges, locally of
fairly gentle relief but mostly eroded by very deep, narrow valleys. Probably
an extremely difficult area to traverse. East of Ras Dashan and the Tekezze is
a very extensive area of undulating plainland.
Relief: Up to 500 m. (Hilly – mountainous). Undulating plain land to the east of Ras
Dashan 100 – 200 m (flat to rolling).
Drainage
Density: Very high.

Appendix A
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, buyt showing strong NNE-SSW orientation of the tributary
streams.
Soils: Lithosols. Possibly brown soils (or similar) with hydromorphic soils or
vertisols (particularly near the Tekezze river) on the plains east of Ras
Dashan.
58. Wabi Shebelle Basin
Rainfall: 150 – 500 mm pa, becoming markedly wetter in the NW.
Geology: Jurassic gypsum, shale and limestone. Extensive plateaux (?) of Tertiary
basalt in the south, east of the Wabi Gestro river.
Landscape: Undulating plains dissected by a dense network of small, shallow steams.

Locally extensive more or less flat plains.
Relief: Up to 100 (-150m) (flat – rolling) in dissected areas. Very little relief on
undissected plateaux.
Drainage
Density: Low or very low on undissected plateaux; high in stream zones.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic. Mostly seasonal streams.
Soils: Not known in detail. Aridisols, with extensive areas of alluvium associated
with the Wabi Shebelle river valley (hydromorphic soils).
59. Welega Upland
Geology: Tertiary basalt lavas. A few areas of Precambrian metasediments and granite
around the margins. The whole central plateau may be alluvium.
Landscape: Upland hill masses to the north and south, eroded into rounded hills with
deep, fairly narrow valleys. The rivers from these flow into a great central
plain of flat, very poorly drained land.
Relief: Less tan 100 m on the plain (flat). Up to 200 m on the hills (rolling), and up
to 700 (-1100) m on hills in the south (hilly – mountainous).

Appendix A
Drainage
Density: High
Drainage
Pattern: On the hills dendritic to sub-parallel in detail (radial overall). On the central
plateau dendritic, but overall centripetal (draining into the centre), with very
sinuous streams.
Soils: On the hills, lithosols and brown soils with associated vertisols in poorly
drained areas. Very extensive areas of vertisols developed on alluvium in the
central plain, probably becoming swampy towards the center. Very poor
subgrades.
60. Western Basement Complex
Rainfall: 1100 – 1600 mm pa, rising rapidly along the eastern margin.
Geology: Precambrian granite and gneiss, with local areas of metasediments. Some
plateau remnants of Tertiary basalt lavas, sometimes extensive, particularly
towards the east. Western plains thought to be covered with a veneer of
alluvium.
Landscape: Two main contrasts. The eastern margin consists of dissected hills, forming
V-shaped valleys and ridges. Locally (east of Gambella) the ridges become
narrow and north-south oriented, while the valleys widen and develop long
footslopes to the hills. To the west the hills level cut into undulating plains,
gently dissected by shallow valleys.
Altitude: 400 – about 2340 m above seal level.
Relief: Up to 50 m on plains (flat), up to 800 (-120) m on hills (hilly mountainous).
Drainage
Drainage
Pattern: Generally dendritic, but usually showing more or less structural controls.
Soils: Rock and lithosols; quartzitic mineral soils. Few engineering gravels,
possibly local accumulations of quartz gravel as footslope/fan deposits, or
valley infillings. Towards the east, Tertiary baslats occue as splateau
remnants, and at one location NW of Mizan Teferi, Quaternary lavas have
associated cinder cones.
61. Western Traps
Rainfall: 900 – 1400 mm pa, becoming wetter to the SE.

Appendix A
Geology: Tertiary basalt lavas.
Landscape: Lava plateaux dipping gently to the west and now eroded into a mass of low
ridged hills, with broad, gently sloping major valleys. Local areas of plateau
remnants.
Altitude: 800 – 2200 m above sea level. Highest point 2731 m.
Relief: Up to 400 (-1000) (-1400) m. (Rolling – hilly). Probably less than 100 m in
major valleys (flat).
Drainage
Density: Moderate. Also locally high (hills) or low (major valleys).
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, flowing to the west.
Soils: Lithosols in the north and south in the most dissected areas; ? brown soils in
the central hills. probably extensive areas of vertisols in the poorly drained
valleys. Aridisols in the Dinder river valley in the west.
62. Wonji Fault Belt
Rainfall: 600 – 900 mm pa, getting wetter towards the Rift Valley wall (SE).
Geology: Tertiary acid lavas (rhyolites, tuffs). Quaternary and recent basalts with
associated cinder cones.
Landscape: Variable. Mainly undulating plains, faulted into plateau and scarp country,
aligned NE – SW. Locally difficult to traverse in a NW – SE direction across
the scarps. Isolated volcanic hills and mountains with surrounding lava fields.
Often extensive and highly dissected. Difficult to traverse. Local areas of
basalt lavas with prolific cinder cones.
Relief: Up to100 (-30) m (Flat – rolling).
Drainage
Density: Low. Locally high around volcanoes.
Drainage
Pattern: Linear, controlled by NE – SW faulting. Locally radial and dendritic around
volcanoes.
Soils: A variety of materials, mainly rock and lithosols, with frequent deposits of
volcanic ash and alluvial/colluvial infillings between fault scarps. Local areas
of swamp hydromorphic soils and vertisols (?) in the vicinity of lake shores

Appendix A
and in poorly drained areas. Volcanic cinders are locally abundant for
engineering gravels. Cinder cones may occur singly (rare).
63. Yubdo Complex
Rainfall: 1400 – 1800 mm pa, becoming wetter towards the east.
Geology: A variety of Precambrian metasediments (schists and quartzites); granite and

gneiss; local ultra basic rocks. Remnant plateaux of Tertiary basalt lavas.
Landscape: Rolling uplands of gentle hills and valleys. Local high dissection around
margins and in Geba gorge.
Relief: Less than 100 (-400) m (-600 m in Geba gorge) (Rolling).
Drainage
Density: High.
Drainage
Pattern: Dendritic, but unclear in the satellite images and apparently poorly defined.
Soils: Not known. Probably mainly quartzitic mineral soils and lithosols, with
brown soils on volcanic plateaux. Ill-defined drainage pattern suggests
extensive areas of poor drainage with development of vertisols.

AppendixA - Land Regions PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

AppendixA - Land Regions PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Appendix A

Site Investigation Manual - 2002 Land Regions of Ethiopia

APPENDIX A LAND REGIONS OF ETHIOPIA

Figure A-1: Land Regions of Ethiopia

USE OF BRACKETS IN DESCRIBING DIMENSIONS OF TERRAIN FEATURES

Ethiopian Roads Authority Page A-1

1. Afar Quaternary Sediments

Relief: Up to 50 (200)m on plains (flat). Up to 600m on hills (hilly- mountainous).

Rainfall: 700 – 800 mm pa

Geology: Tertiary basalt lavas; Quaternary and recent sediments.

Landscape: Not known in detail. Probably undulating plainland, locally hilly.

Relief: Not known. Probably not more than 50m (flat).

Page A-2 Ethiopian Roads Authority

Geology: Precambrian basement complex. A wide variety of metamorphosed

Landscape: Steep, highly-dissected hill slopes, straight-sided, with narrow V-shaped

Altitude: 200 – 3000 m above sea level.

Relief: 700 – 1200 m (mountainous).

Rainfall: 700 – 800 mm pa

Geology: A variety of metamorphic rocks, particularly slates, phyllites and quartzite

Altitude: Up to 2300 m above sea level.

Relief: 100 – 150 m. (Rolling to hilly; locally flat).

Ethiopian Roads Authority Page A-3

Rainfall: 600 – 700 mm pa

Geology: Basement Complex gneisses and granites. A few tabular outcrops of

Altitude: 1200 – 2000 m above sea level.

Relief: Up to 300 m around hills, less than 100 m in valleys (Flat-rolling).

Geology: Mostly Basement Complex gneisses(?). A few remnant plateaux of Tertiary

Altitude: 1000 – 3375 m above sea level.

Relief: Up to 1700 m on hills (hilly – mountainous). Up to 100 m on plains (flat).

Page A-4 Ethiopian Roads Authority

Rainfall: 900 – 1200 mm pa

Altitude: 1100 – 4375 m above sea level.

Rainfall: Variable. 100 mm pa in the north, increasing to 400 mm in the south.

Altitude: 550 – 900 m above sea level.

Ethiopian Roads Authority Page A-5

Rainfall: 900 – 1200 mm pa, decreasing from east to west.

Geology: Undifferentiated Quaternary sediments.

Altitude: 405 – 435 m (845 m above sea level at eastern edge).

Relief: Mostly 0 m. Up to 50 (-250) m at eastern edge.

10. Blue Nile Basement Complex

Rainfall: 1400 – 1500 mm pa.

Geology: Mainly Precambrian gneisses.

Altitude: 700 – 2000 m above sea level.

Relief: Up to 100 m but probably less normally (probably hilly).

Page A-6 Ethiopian Roads Authority

11. Blue Nile Sediments

12. Blue Nile Traps

Ethiopian Roads Authority Page A-7

13. Borena Massif

Rainfall: 500 – 800 mm pa, becoming drier from NW to SE.

Altitude: 1000 – 2100 m above seal level.

Relief: 150 (-200) m on plateaux (flat to rolling). Up to 800 m in hills (rolling to

14. Burgi Complex

Altitude: 900 – 1700 m above sea level.

Relief: 50 – 10 m (probably rolling to hilly).

Page A-8 Ethiopian Roads Authority

15. Central Afar Volcanics

Rainfall: Less than 200 to about 400 mm pa.

16. Central Shewa Plateau

Rainfall: 800 – 1200 mm pa. The rainfall increases from SE to NW.

Geology: Tertiary acid volcanics (rhyolites, ignimbrites, agglomerates).

Altitude: 2100 – 3400 m above sea level.

Relief: Less than 50 m on plains (flat). Up to 400 (-1100) m on hills (hilly –