#DidYouKnow that the Kariba Dam, located on the Zambezi River, is a marvel of engineering and a vital source of hydroelectric power for Zimbabwe and Zambia? Constructed in just 5 years, from 1955 to 1959, at a cost of 122 million pounds, the dam is an impressive structure that stands 128m tall and 617m wide. Its sheer size and scale are a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the engineers and workers who built it.
The Kariba Dam is not only an impressive feat of engineering, but it’s also the largest dam in the world by storage capacity. It can hold an incredible amount of water, making it a vital source of hydroelectric power for the region. The dam’s reservoir, Lake Kariba, is over 200km long and 40km wide, and is home to a wide variety of fish and other aquatic life.
The construction of the Kariba Dam came at a significant human cost. 86 workers lost their lives during the construction process, and over 50,000 people, mainly from the Tonga tribe, were relocated to make way for the dam. Despite these challenges, the dam has become a vital source of power and economic growth for the region.
Today, the Kariba Dam is jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia, and is managed through the Zambezi River Authority. The dam’s power stations, including the Kariba South Power Station in Zimbabwe, have a total generation capacity of 1050MW, making it the largest power generation plant in Zimbabwe.
Dandaro Online, Zimbabwe Did You Know
