Lake Kariba

Lake Kariba Latest News

After a decade of erratic rains and heatwaves that devastated Lake Kariba’s levels, new inflows from the upper Zambezi are lifting the reservoir and restoring hope.

About Lake Kariba

• It is located in central Africa, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• It is located on the Zambezi River, about halfway between the river’s source and mouth.  
• It can be found 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean.
• It is the world’s largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume and the fourth largest by surface area. 
• It is over 220 kilometers long and up to 40 kilometers in width. It covers an area of 5,200 sq.km.
  • Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963 after the completion of the Kariba Dam, which flooded the Kariba Gorge on the Zambezi River. 
  • The Kariba Dam consists of a double-arch wall. 
  • The dam wall is 128 m high and 617 m (2029 feet) long when measured along the horizontal arch of the wall. 
• It provides considerable electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe and supports a thriving commercial fishing industry.
• The lake encompasses a total of 102 islands, including well-known ones like Chete Island and Spurwing Island.
• Chete Island boasts the world’s largest expanse of protected, undeveloped wetlands and hosts the largest single population of African elephants.

Source: DTE

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