Bilate River

{{more citations needed|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Bilate River

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| source1_location =

| mouth_location =

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|6|37|54|N|37|59|6|E|region:ET-SN|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Ethiopia

| length = ~{{convert|250|km|abbr=on}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|3,382|m|abbr=on}}

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|1,175|m|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_avg = {{convert|16.6|m3/s|abbr=on}}

| basin_size_km2 = 5,754

| city = Dimtu

| tributaries_right = * Badessa river

• Charake river

}}

The Bilate{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238681859_WATER_RESOURCES_ASSESSMENT_IN_THE_BILATE_RIVER_CATCHMENT_-_PRECIPITATION_VARIABILITY |last1=Thiemann |first1=Stefan |last2=Förch |first2=Gerd |date=2005 |title=Water resources assessment in the Bilate River catchment - precipitation variability |via=ResearchGate}} is a river of south-central Ethiopia. It rises on the southwestern slopes of Mount Gurage near {{coord|6|2|N|38|7|E}}, flowing south along the western side of the Great Rift Valley, to empty into Lake Abaya at {{coord|6|37|54|N|37|59|6|E}}. It is the longest river flowing into Lake Abaya and also the one with the highest discharge. The 250 km long river is not navigable and has no notable tributaries. Along the middle of its course, the Bilate flows past the Bilate River volcanic field and its most territory covered by Halaba Zone.{{Cite web|url=https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=221291|title = Global Volcanism Program | Bilate River Field}}

David Buxton recorded its importance as defining the boundary between the Sidamo district on the eastern side, and the Wolaita district on the western; he also described finding a weekly market beside a ford named Dimtu.Buxton, Travels in Ethiopia, second edition (London: Benn, 1967), pp. 98f