Awash National Park

Awash National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Awash river
Location in Ethiopia
Location	Ethiopia
Nearest city	Adama
Coordinates	8°55′12″N 40°02′33.65″E
Area	850 km2 (330 sq mi)
Established	1966

East African oryx in the national park

Awash National Park is a national park in Ethiopia. Spanning across the southern tip of the Afar Region and the northeastern corner of the East Shewa Zone of Oromia, this park is 225 kilometers east of Addis Ababa (and a few kilometers west of Awash), with its southern boundary along the Awash River, and covers 850 square kilometers of acacia woodland and grassland. The Addis Ababa - Dire Dawa highway passes through this park, separating the Illala Saha Plains to the south from the Kudu Valley to the north. In the south of the park the Awash River gorge has amazing waterfalls. In the upper Kudu Valley at Filwoha are hot springs amid groves of palm trees.

The Awash National Park was established in 1966, although the act authorizing its existence was not completely passed for another three years. In establishing this park, as well as the Metehara Sugar Plantation to the south, the livelihoods of the indigenous Karayyu Oromo people have been endangered — an effect that is contrary to the Ethiopian government's original intention of these establishments serving to benefit the local population.

Fauna

Wildlife in this park include Hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, African Elephants, Hyenas, Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, 335 East African oryxes, Soemmerring's gazelles, Zebra, Giraffe, Salt's dik-diks, the lesser, Greater kudus, and Common warthogs. Olive baboons and African wild dogs, Hamadryas baboons are present, as well as over 453 species of native birds like the ostriches. Rhinos have also been in the park till 1945.

Biomes

Habitats in Awash National Park include few Acacia, Savanna and Shrubland

See also

• Oromia Region

References

• Philip Briggs. 2002. Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 3rd edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt), pp. 335f
• C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg

External links

• World Database on Protected Areas – Awash National Park
• Former official site
• Description of the National Park and its animals