Context:
Water levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Nino drought.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About Lake Kariba
Size and Ranking:
- World’s largest man-made lake and reservoir by volume.
- Approximately 280 km long and 40 km wide, covering nearly 6,000 square kilometers.
Location:
- Located approximately 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean.
- Situated along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- 200 kilometers downstream of Victoria Falls.
Formation:
- Formed following the completion of the Kariba Dam wall at its northeastern end.
- The dam flooded the Kariba Gorge on the Zambezi River.
Kariba Dam:
- Consists of a double-arch wall.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 128 meters
- Length: 617 meters
- Width (top): 13 meters
- Width (base): 24 meters
- Construction:
- Began on 6th November 1956.
- Completed in 1959, taking up to three years.
Significance:
- Provides substantial electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Supports a thriving commercial fishing industry.
Geographical Features:
- Situated across the Kariba gorge, creating a border crossing between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
-Source: Down To Earth
