The Geography of Kenya is diverse, varying amongst its 47 counties. Kenya has a coastline on the Indian Ocean, which contains swamps of East African mangroves. Inland are broad plains and numerous hills. Kenya borders South Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, and Ethiopia to the north. Kenya currently faces border disputes with South Sudan over the Ilemi Triangle and with Somalia over Jubbaland where, if the Somalian Government gives it up, it could be a new part of Kenya, which would bring the total land area of Kenya to approximately 692,939 km2.
A drainage basin is an area of land in which all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, the drainage divide, made up of a succession of elevated features, such as ridges and hills. A basin may consist of smaller basins that merge at river confluences, forming a hierarchical pattern.
An endorheic basin is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water ; instead, the water drainage flows into permanent and seasonal lakes and swamps that equilibrate through evaporation. Endorheic basins are also called closed basins, terminal basins, and internal drainage systems.
The Awash River is a major river of Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia and empties into a chain of interconnected lakes that begin with Lake Gargori and end with Lake Abbe on the border with Djibouti, some 100 kilometres from the head of the Gulf of Tadjoura. The Awash River is the principal stream of an endorheic drainage basin covering parts of the Amhara, Oromia and Somali Regions, as well as the southern half of the Afar Region. The Awash River basin, spanning 23 administrative zones, covers 10% of Ethiopia's area.
Hora-Dambal, also known as Lake Zway or Dambal, is one of the freshwater Rift Valley lakes of Ethiopia. It is the home of the Zay people. Located about 100 miles south of Addis Ababa, on the border between the Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, the woredas holding the lake's shoreline are Adami Tullu-Jido Kombolcha, Dugda, and Batu town. The town of Batu lies on the lake's western shore. The lake is fed primarily by two rivers, the Meki from the west and the Katar from the east, and is drained by the Bulbula which empties into Lake Abijatta. The lake's catchment has an area of 7,025 square kilometers.
The Birbir River of southwestern Ethiopia is a tributary of the Baro River, which it creates at its confluence with the Gebba. It is politically important because its course defines part of the boundary between the Mirab Welega and Illubabor Zones of the Oromia Region. Richard Pankhurst notes that the Birbir is economically important for the discovery in 1904 of deposits of platinum along its course.
The Germama River, is a tributary of the Awash River in Ethiopia. The name Germama comes from the Amharic word which means "frolicking", "boisterous", or "frisky".
The Pibor River is a river in eastern South Sudan, which defines part of South Sudan's border with Ethiopia. From its source near Pibor Post it flows north for about 320 kilometres (200 mi), joining the Baro River to form the Sobat River, which is a tributary of the White Nile.
The Gilo River is a river in the Gambela Region of southwestern Ethiopia. A variety of names also knows it: the Gimira of Dizu call it the "Mene", while the Gemira of Chako call it "Owis", and Amhara and Oromo settlers in the early 20th century knew it by a third name, "Bako". From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands near Mizan Teferi it flows to the west, through Lake Tata to join the Pibor River on Ethiopia's border with Sudan. The combined waters then join the Sobat River and the White Nile.
The Ganale Doria River 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, and Mena. The Del Verme Falls is a notable feature of its middle course.
The Mille River is a river of Ethiopia and a tributary of the Awash. It drains parts of the Semien (North) Wollo and Debub (South) Wollo Zones of the Amhara Region, as well as Administrative Zone 4 of the Afar Region. The explorer L.M. Nesbitt, who travelled through the area in 1928, was impressed by its size, and described the Mille as "probably the only real river which joins the Awash". The Ala River (A'ura) and Golima River (Golina) are small tributaries of the Mille.
Alwero River is a river in Abobo woreda of Gambela Region, Ethiopia. It flows through the Gambela National Park and through wetlands into the Openo/Baro River.
The Ataye is a river in central Ethiopia. It flows into the Awash River via an unnamed stretch of river.
Galetti River is a river in eastern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Ramis River, which is in turn a tributary of the 2,714 km long Shebelle River.
Gololcha River is a river of eastern Ethiopia. It flows into the Awash River.
The Logiya, or Logia, is a river of east-central Ethiopia, a left tributary of the Awash River.
The Sor is a river of southwestern Ethiopia. A tributary of the Birbir River on its left side and joins it at latitude and longitude 8°30′48″N35°11′17″E, the Sor rises in Sayo.
Weyib River is a river of eastern Ethiopia. It rises in the Bale Mountains east of Goba in the Oromia Region, flowing east to pass through the Sof Omar Caves, then to the southeast until it joins the Ganale Dorya River in the Somali Region.
The Gebba is a river of southwestern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Baro River, which is created at the confluence of the Gebba and the Birbir. The river is the planned site for the twin Gebba Hydro electric power dams.
