Kariba Dam, Arch dam in Kariba Gorge, Zimbabwe
Kariba Dam is a double-curvature arch barrier in Kariba Gorge between Zambia and Zimbabwe, stretching 579 meters (1900 feet) across the Zambezi and standing 128 meters (420 feet) high. The structure forms a reservoir lake on the upstream side and houses six turbines on each side of the border.
Construction started in 1955 and required relocating 57,000 Tonga people who left their ancestral settlements along the river. Work was completed in 1959 when the Zambezi began to pool behind the wall.
The name comes from the Kariba River, a small tributary near the gorge where the barrier now stands. Local communities on both banks maintain ties through groups like Basilwizi Trust, which advocates for development and participation in regional decisions.
The facility produces 6400 gigawatt-hours per year, supplying electricity to industrial zones and households in both countries. Visitors can view the installation from the banks but should expect limited access in certain areas.
A rescue mission called Operation Noah saved about 6000 large animals between 1958 and 1961 as rising water flooded their habitats. The effort used boats and rafts to move creatures from shrinking islands.
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