The Shebelle River (Somali: Webi Shabeelle) begins in the Ethiopian highlands and then flows southeast in Somalia towards Mogadishu . Near Mogadishu, it is markedly south-west, where the coast continues. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal. Most years the river dries up near the mouth, disappears as a river, and becomes a series of swamps and sandy flats northwest of its confluence with the Jubba . while in the seasons of heavy rainfall the river even reaches the Jubba and their combined waters then flow to the Indian Ocean .
Summary
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- 1 Features
- 2 History
- 3 Hydrography
- 4 Economy
- 5 Sources
characteristics
Its name comes from the Somali language, Wabi Shabeelle which means “Leopard / Tiger River”. The Shebelle River is 2,526 km long, stretching 1,290 km within Ethiopia and 1,236 km within Somalia. The river gives its name to the Somali administrative regions of the Shabeelle River, being Shabeellaha Dhexe and Shabeellaha Hoose.
History
In the past, the Shebelle River area was heavily affected by diseases carried by tsetse flies , they have been eradicated in at least some parts of the Shebelle River.
Hydrography
The river has several important tributaries: in Ethiopia, the Maribo , Ulul , Hadida , Siyanan , Ungwata , Ramis , Errer and Dakota rivers ; and in Somalia, the seasonal Galetti and Wabe . The Fafen River does not reach the Shebelle except in times of flooding, since in normal seasons it dries up earlier. Shebelle is located within the Ethiopian hydrographic network along the Blue Nile , Omo , Awash , Genale and Tana rivers. It is also one of the two main rivers of Somalia, in the central part and the Jubba in the south, they cross the country until they flow into the Indian Ocean, forming the two main valleys on which the Somali population mainly rests.
Economy
Currently 60% of Somalis are nomadic or semi-nomadic herders of cows, camels, sheep and goats. 25% of the inhabitants are farmers settled in the regions between the Juba and Shebelle rivers, in the south of the country. The rest of the population is concentrated in metropolitan areas. The main arable regions are the fertile lands of the Yuba and Shebele valleys and some coastal areas.
