Chini | |
Coords: | 13.6556°N 39.1249°W |
Type: | Freshwater artificial lake |
Basin Countries: | Ethiopia |
Elevation: | 2580m (8,470feet) |
Pushpin Map: | Ethiopia |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Cities: | Melfa |
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.