Just 25 km south of Shashemene, it is the modern capital of Southern Nations Regional State and is situated on the shores of Lake Hawassa, one of the Rift Valley Lakes. In the morning, a big fish market is active here. Addis Abeba, Arba Minch, Bale Mountains National Park, and the Kenyan Border are all within a comfortable half-day to full-day drive from Hawassa. Comfortable hotels can be found here now, such as the new Haile Resort, built by the world record breaking runner Haile Gebrselassie, the city center South StarHotel, Lake View Hotel, United Africa Hotel, Central Hawassa, Oasis and Yamare Hotel.