According to materials published by the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency, the Ganale has a total length of 858 km (533 mi).

[3] The Ethiopian Ministry of Water Resources, describes the catchment area of the Ganale Dorya-Dawa river basin as 82,600 km2 (31,900 sq mi) in size, with an annual runoff of 5.80 billion cubic metres (205×10^9 cu ft), and specific discharge of 1.2 litres per second (0.042 cu ft/s) per square kilometre.

[4] The catchment area is estimated as having the potential to irrigate 1,070 km2 (410 sq mi), and to generate 9270 gigawatt-hours per year.

[6] The Genale Doria is historically important because it served as the boundary between Sidamo and Bale Provinces.

The confluence of the Ganale Doria with the Dawa is notable as the former starting point for the boundary between Ethiopia and Kenya to the west, and the starting point for the boundary between Ethiopia and Somalia to the east.