Earth's Water Distribution Quiz

Water Coverage on Earth

• Approximately 71% of the Earth's total surface is covered by water bodies, mainly comprising seas and oceans.
• About 97.5% of the Earth's total water surface is alkaline, accumulated in seas and oceans.

Fresh Water Distribution

• Only 2.5% of the Earth's total water surface is fresh water.
• Of the fresh water, nearly 68.7% is deposited in glaciers.
• Approximately 30.1% of fresh water is stored in ground water.
• About 0.8% of fresh water is found in permafrost.
• A small percentage, around 0.4%, is stored in surface waters (lakes, rivers, atmosphere, soils, and wetlands).

Ethiopia's Water Resources

• Ethiopia's topographic setup is characterized by a complex blend of highlands, rugged terrain, and low plains.
• The country's diverse topography, relatively higher rainfall, and proximity to the equator contribute to its larger volume of ground and surface water.
• Around 0.7% of Ethiopia's total land mass is covered by water bodies.
• The country's surface water potential is estimated to be 124.4 billion cubic meters (BCM), as studied in integrated river basin master plans.
• Ethiopia is often referred to as the "water tower of Eastern Africa" due to its significant water resources.