with a surface area of 1162 square Km, Lake Abaya is the second largest in Ethiopia after Lake Tana and one of the biggest lakes in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. It is 60 Km long and 20 Kms wide with a maximum depth of 13.1 meters. The lake, found at an elevation of 1285 meters is located in what is known as the Main Ethiopian Rift, east of the Guge Mountains. The town of Arba Minch, a must see scenic town close to Nechsar National Park, lies on the southwestern shore of Lake Abaya with the southern shore reaching into the Nechsar National Park. Loka Abaya National Park located in the lowland areas surrounding Lake Abaya is known for the African Wild Dog, Buffalo and
Lion species.