lake ziway is 31 kilometers long and 20 km wide, with a surface area of 440 square kilometers. it has a maximum depth of 9 meters and is at an elevation of 1,636 meters. according to the "statistical abstract of ethiopia for 1967/68", lake ziway is 25 kilometers long and 20 km wide, with a surface area of 434 square kilometers. it has a maximum depth of 4 meters and is at an elevation of 1,846 meters. it contains five islands, including debre sina, galila, bird island and tulu gudo, which is home to a monastery said to have housed the ark of the covenant around the ninth century.