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

Arato
A dam head
Arato is located in Ethiopia
Arato
Arato
Coordinates13°30′44″N 39°38′41″E / 13.51230068°N 39.64480822°E / 13.51230068; 39.64480822
TypeFreshwater artificial lake
Basin countriesEthiopia
Surface area0.4 km2 (0.15 sq mi)
Water volume2.59×10^6 m3 (2,100 acre⋅ft)
Surface elevation2,400 m (7,900 ft)
SettlementsAraguren

Dam characteristics

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  • Dam height: 20 metres
  • Dam crest length: 443 metres
  • Spillway width: 20 metres

Capacity

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  • Original capacity: 2 590 000 m³
  • Dead storage: 647 698 m³
  • Reservoir area: 40 ha

Irrigation

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  • Designed irrigated area: 120 ha
  • Actual irrigated area in 2002: 27 ha
 

Environment

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The catchment of the reservoir is 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) large, with a perimeter of 16 km (9.9 mi) and a length of 4,950 m (16,240 ft). The reservoir suffers from rapid siltation.[2] The lithology of the catchment is Antalo Limestone and Mekelle Dolerite.[1] Part of the water that could be used for irrigation is lost through seepage;[3] the positive side-effect is that this contributes to groundwater recharge.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ An integrated approach for detection and delineation of leakage path from Micro-Dam Reservoir (MDR): a case study from Arato MDR, Northern Ethiopia https://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10064-015-0750-9
  4. ^ 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.