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Jinbar Falls (Jin Bahir Falls)

Jinbar Falls, Ethiopia
Jinbar Falls / Giustino, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  In short

One of the tallest waterfalls in Africa is the little known Jinbar Falls, that are more than 500 m high.

4.3 out of 10 stars 43.3%

GPS coordinates
13.2388 N 38.0744 E
Location, address
Africa, Ethiopia, Amhara, Semien Gondar Zone, Simien National Park, falls over the rim of Geech Abyss
Alternate names
Jin Bahir Falls, Jinbar Wenz, Gishe, Geech, Kabal
Height
> 500 m

Map of the site

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WorldYellow In detail

Waterfall is located in one of the most dramatic locations of Simien Mountains – in Geech Abyss. This narrow, canyon-like abyss is considered to be up to 800 m deep.

Jinbar Falls, Ethiopia
Jinbar Falls / Giustino, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Jinbar river (Jinbar Wenz) is some 9 km long stream, collecting the precipitation of the northernmost part of Simien Plateau. This land is covered with unusual ecosystem – alpine grassland dominated by giant lobelias, while deeper in valleys grows a forest of Erica.

As the river reaches the abyss, it falls in it from an impressive canyon. Thus their height is less than the depth of abyss but nevertheless – more (possibily a lot more) than 500 m.

The river drops like a thin line down. At half of the falls water is turned in mist. Fall is not entirely in a single plunge – it hits the nearly vertical cliff several times, especially if wind drives it into the cliffs. At the base it forms a smaller cascade.

At rainy weather the falls become very impressive, but some water here is all the time.

References:
  1. Almost whole fall is visible in this image by Rob de Hair. Taken in October 9, 2010. Accessed on July 18, 2011.
  2. Images: 1, 2, 3, by Brian J. McMorrow, the 23rd January 2009. Accessed on July 18, 2011.

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Negussie Abraha
Negussie Abraha
5 years ago

“Waterfall is located in one of the most dramatic locations of Simien Mountains – in Geech Abyss (Gishe Abbai).”

Geech Abyss and Gishe Abbai (Gish Abbai) are two different places of interest >200 miles apart. As the name indicates, Geech Abyss is about a vertical realm at Geech n the Simien Mountains. Gish Abbai, on the other hand, denotes the springs of the Abbai river; that is, the Nile, near Lake Tana. Gish Abbai simply means Nile Springs.