Shebelle River

The Shebelle River (Oromo: Laga Shabeellee, Somali: Webi Shabeelle, Amharic: እደላ, Italian: fiume Uebi Scebeli) also known historically as the Nile of Mogadishu, begins in the highlands of Ethiopia and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal. During most years, the river dries up near the mouth of the Jubba River, while in seasons of heavy rainfall, the river actually reaches the Jubba and thus the ocean. During periods of heavy rainfall in Ethiopia, the Shebelle and Jubba Rivers merge, and their combined waters ultimately reach the Indian Ocean. In drier years, though, the Shebelle River diminishes and transforms into a series of wetlands and sandy plains to the northeast of the confluence with the Jubba. The Shebelle River has a total length of 1,820 km. The area surrounding it is inhabited by Arsi Oromo people, Somali people in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, and Somali people in Somalia. In the lower basin of the river, agriculture has largely replaced the traditional nomadic herding lifestyle, and the cultivation of bananas along the southern stretches of the Shebeli and Jubba Rivers contributes significantly to Somalia's export industry.