| Gilgel Abay Lesser Abay | |
|---|---|
 Gilgel Abay at BIkolo, during flood | |
 Map of Lake Tana, showing rivers flowing into it | |
| Etymology | Literally "Lesser Nile" |
| Native name | ግልገል አባይ (Amharic) |
| Location | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Region | Amhara |
| Zone | West Gojjam |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | NearGish Abay |
| • coordinates | 11°00′41″N37°09′08″E / 11.01147°N 37.15229°E /11.01147; 37.15229 |
| • elevation | 2,454 m (8,051 ft) |
| Mouth | Lake Tana |
• location | 12.5 km (7.8 mi) SE of Kunzila |
• coordinates | 11°47′55″N37°07′31″E / 11.798679°N 37.125324°E /11.798679; 37.125324 |
• elevation | 1,786 m (5,860 ft) |
| Length | 154.5 km (96.0 mi) |
| Basin size | 3,887 km2 (1,501 sq mi) |
| Width | |
| • maximum | 71 m (233 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lake Tana →Blue Nile →Nile →Mediterranean Sea |
| River system | Nile Basin |
| Population | 1,220,000 |
TheGilgel Abay (Amharic: ግልገል አባይ, Gǝlgäl Abbay), orLesser Abay, is a river of centralEthiopia. Rising in the mountains ofGojjam, it flows northward to empty into south-westernLake Tana in abird's-foot delta. Tributaries of the Gilgel Abbay include the Ashar, Jamma, Kelti and the Koger. It was regarded as the true source of theNile for a long time and the Jesuit priestPedro Paez visited it in 1618. The name Gilgel Abbay means Lesser Nile, as Abbay is the name for theBlue Nile.
It is ameandering river, with a catchment area of 3,887 km2 (1,501 sq mi). It is 71 meters wide near its mouth, with a slope gradient of 0.7 m/km. The average diameter of thebed material is 0.37 mm (sand).[1]
The river carries annually 22,185 tonnes ofbedload and 7.6 million tonnes ofsuspended sediment toLake Tana.[1]
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