Cahora Bassa Dam

The Cahora Bassa Dam is an arch dam and hydroelectric facility on the Zambezi River in Cahora-Bassa District. The concrete structure curves across the riverbed, with a reservoir forming behind it and a power station housed within its base.

Construction started in 1969 and finished in 1974, during a time when many African nations were gaining independence. Companies from Portugal, Germany, Britain and South Africa worked together on the project.

The construction of Cahora Bassa Dam led to the displacement of 50,000 local residents and affected agricultural practices along the Zambezi River.

The reservoir extends far upstream and changes the course of the Zambezi over a long distance. The power station generates electricity that travels through transmission lines to South Africa.

The reservoir reaches more than two hundred kilometers upstream from the wall. The volume of water held in the lake ranks among the largest man-made bodies of water in Africa.

Location: Cahora-Bassa District

Inception: 1969

Official opening: 1976

Elevation above the sea: 220 m

Height: 171 m

Length: 303 m

Width: 23 m

Website: https://hcb.co.mz

GPS coordinates: -15.58583,32.70472

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28