Betqua

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Betqua
Betqua is located in Ethiopia
Betqua
Betqua
Coordinates13°19′29″N 39°20′07″E / 13.32473607°N 39.33529336°E / 13.32473607; 39.33529336
TypeFreshwater artificial lake
Basin countriesEthiopia
Surface area0.137 km2 (0.053 sq mi)
Water volume0.666×10^6 m3 (540 acre⋅ft)
Surface elevation2,270 m (7,450 ft)
SettlementsHintalo

Betqua is a reservoir located in the Hintalo Wajirat woreda of the Tigray Region in Ethiopia. The earthen dam that holds the reservoir was built in 1997 by SAERT.[1]

Dam characteristics[edit]

  • Dam height: 16 metres
  • Dam crest length: 284 metres
  • Spillway width: 20 metres

Capacity[edit]

  • Original capacity: 666 337 m³
  • Dead storage: 133 267 m³
  • Reservoir area: 13.7 ha

In 2002, the life expectancy of the reservoir (the duration before it is filled with sediment) was estimated at 23 years.[1]

Irrigation[edit]

  • Designed irrigated area: 70 ha
  • Actual irrigated area in 2002: 25 ha

Environment[edit]

The catchment of the reservoir is 1.52 km² large, with a perimeter of 4.82 km and a length of 1520 metres. The reservoir suffers from rapid siltation.[2] The lithology of the catchment is Agula Shale and Mekelle Dolerite[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]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c De Wit, Joke (2003). Stuwmeren in Tigray (Noord-Ethiopië): kenmerken, sedimentatie en sediment-bronnen. Unpub. M.Sc. thesis. Department of Geography, K.U.Leuven.
  2. ^ Nigussie Haregeweyn, and colleagues (2006). "Reservoirs in Tigray: characteristics and sediment deposition problems". Land Degradation and Development. 17: 211–230. doi:10.1002/ldr.698. S2CID 129834993.
  3. ^ Nigussie Haregeweyn, and colleagues (2008). "Sediment yield variability in Northern Ethiopia: A quantitative analysis of its controlling factors". Catena. 75 (1): 65–76. Bibcode:2008Caten..75...65H. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2008.04.011.