The fish market
Boats and fishers at dawn.
Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0 · Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0 · Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0 · Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — CC BY 2.0 · Yonatan Solomon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Hawassa lies in the Main Ethiopian Rift on the edge of the city of Hawassa, capital of the Sidama Region, south of Addis Ababa. Its name comes from a Sidama word meaning «wide body of water». The lake is about 16 km long and 9 km wide, covering 129 square kilometres, with a maximum depth of 10 metres, at 1,708 metres above sea level inside the Awasa Caldera. It has no visible outflow yet stays fresh, which suggests an underground outlet. It is the most studied of Ethiopia's Rift Valley lakes. Fishing is one of the city's main trades, and the lakeside fish market is busy in the early morning, with wooden boats pulled up on the shore and big marabou storks wandering among the people. Reeds and grasses line the banks, and the sunsets over the water and hills are well known. Visitors reach Hawassa by air through its airport or by road from Addis Ababa. The UK government currently advises against all but essential travel on parts of the A7 road towards Hawassa, so check travel advice before you go. Ask before photographing the fishermen at the market.
Boats and fishers at dawn.
Wandering on the shore.
Over the water and hills.
Hawassa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia
By air to Hawassa airport, or by road after checking travel advice.
Early morning, when the boats come in.