Grade 9 Geography unit 3: Natural resource base of Ethiopia

Natural gas, crude oil, coal, and all minerals cannot be regenerated by nature and exist in limited amounts, which makes them non-renewable resources. Soil, solar radiation, and geothermal energy are renewable resources.

The Western drainage system is the largest system in Ethiopia. It includes major rivers such as the Tekezze, Abbay, and Baro-Akobo, contributing 60 percent of the country's total annual water discharge.

The River Baro is the only navigable river used for water transport in Ethiopia.

Lake Shalla is the deepest lake in Ethiopia with a maximum depth of 266 meters.

River Tekezze becomes River Athbara in the Sudan. River Abbay becomes the Blue Nile, River Baro becomes River Sobat, and River Genale becomes River Juba in Somalia.

Nithosols are red basaltic soils with deep profiles that are friable and have stable structure, making them the most widely cultivated soils in Ethiopia for coffee, enset, and cereals.

Kenticha in Adola is identified as an area rich in tantalum, which is used to manufacture electronic equipment including mobile phones.

Swayne's Hartebeest (Korkay) is an endemic mammal found in Nechsar Park and the Sankalle Sanctuary.

The Awash River flows through the Rift Valley and terminates in the salty Lake Abbe on the border with Djibouti.

Vertisols (black basaltic soils) cover about 10 percent of Ethiopia and are characterized by high clay content and poor drainage, which limits their cultivation and makes them mainly used for grazing.