The Germama (or Kesem or Kessem) River, is a tributary of the
Awash River in
Ethiopia. The name ''Germama'' comes from the
Amharic
Amharic ( or ; (Amharic: ), ', ) is an Ethiopian Semitic language, which is a subgrouping within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. It is spoken as a first language by the Amharas, and also serves as a lingua franca for all oth ...
word which means "frolicking", "boisterous", or "frisky".
The Germama is not a navigable stream, and flows with a great volume during the
rainy season. It rises west of
Kese Koremash, flowing east to the Awash, its course delineating a few kilometers of the northern boundary of the
Awash National Park. The Kessem River passes an altitude drop from more than 2000 m on a flow length of ca.130 km. The steep gadient of the river profile is the reason for its turbulent flow regime, which is also reflected in its name. The lowlands of the upper Germama was the location of the former
Shewa
Shewa ( am, ሸዋ; , om, Shawaa), formerly romanized as Shua, Shoa, Showa, Shuwa (''Scioà'' in Italian language, Italian), is a historical region of Ethiopia which was formerly an autonomous monarchy, kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire. The ...
n district of
Bulga; the lower course defines the northern boundary of the Shewan district of
Menjar.
The Ethiopian
Ministry of Water Resources Ministry of water resources may refer to:
* Ministry of Water Resources (Bangladesh)
* Ministry of Water Resources (India)
* Ministry of Water Resources (Iraq)
* Minister of Water Resources (Nigeria)
* Ministry of Water Resources (Pakistan)
* Minis ...
began construction of a dam on the Germama in 2005, which would help irrigate areas along both sides of the river, and in the Dofen and Kebena Mountains. In December 2008, a spokesman for the Ministry announced that the project was 98% complete.
"5b Brr. Kesem, Tendaho projects nearing completion: Ministry"
Ethiopian News Agency
The Ethiopian News Agency ( am, የኢትዮጵያ ዜና አገልግሎት ''Ye-Ityopya Zéna Agelgelot'' (IZA) or ENA) is the official news agency of the Government of Ethiopia. It is the oldest news organization in Ethiopia.
IZA's inception d ...
(accessed 29 April 2009)
Notes
Rivers of Ethiopia
Awash River
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