Lake Tana, Lake in Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Lake Tana is a large body of water in the Ethiopian Highlands covering several thousand square kilometers at an altitude near 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet). The water has a brownish tint and is dotted with many islands, where churches and monasteries appear among eucalyptus and acacia trees.
Volcanoes blocked river channels roughly 5 million years ago, creating this large basin that slowly filled with water. In the 14th century, monks settled on several islands and built their monasteries there.
The name Tana comes from an Amharic word meaning water, reflecting how central this body is to local life. On roughly 30 islands, monks maintain centuries-old rituals in their monasteries and safeguard hand-painted Bibles behind thick stone walls.
Boats leave regularly for the different islands, with trips ranging from 30 minutes to several hours depending on your destination. Mornings tend to be calmer on the water and the light is better for photography.
Twenty fish species swim only in this water and exist nowhere else on earth. Over 200 bird species, including white pelicans and fish eagles, use the shore zones as resting spots during their seasonal migrations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
