Chini is a small reservoir located in Melfa (Dogu’a Tembien woreda, Tigray Region, Ethiopia). The 151-metres long earthen dam that holds the reservoir was built in 1993 by the Relief Society of Tigray.[1] It was mainly constructed for purpose of livestock watering. The catchment of the reservoir is 1.86 km² large, with a perimeter of 5.15 km and a length of 1800 metres. The reservoir suffers from rapid siltation.[2] The lithology of the catchment is composed of Ashangi Basalts.[1] Part of the water that could be used for irrigation is lost through seepage; the positive side-effect is that this contributes to groundwater recharge.[3] Actually, in the wider surrounding of the reservoir, both upstream and downstream the level of the watertable has strongly raised, and the area has become remarkably greener.

Chini
Chini is located in Ethiopia
Chini
Chini
Coordinates13°39′20″N 39°07′30″E / 13.655626°N 39.124926°E / 13.655626; 39.124926
TypeFreshwater artificial lake
Basin countriesEthiopia
Surface elevation2,580 m (8,460 ft)
SettlementsMelfa

References

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  1. ^ a b De Wit, Joke (2003). Stuwmeren in Tigray (Noord-Ethiopië): kenmerken, sedimentatie en sediment-bronnen. Unpub. M.Sc. thesis. Department of Geography, K.U.Leuven.
  2. ^ Nigussie Haregeweyn, and colleagues (2006). "Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems". Land Degradation and Development. 17: 211–230. doi:10.1002/ldr.698. S2CID 129834993.
  3. ^ Nigussie Haregeweyn, and colleagues (2008). "Sediment yield variability in Northern Ethiopia: A quantitative analysis of its controlling factors". Catena. 75 (1): 65–76. Bibcode:2008Caten..75...65H. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2008.04.011.