Kariba Dam

Kariba Dam
The dam as seen from Zimbabwe
LocationZambia
Zimbabwe
Coordinates16°31′20″S 28°45′42″E / 16.52222°S 28.76167°E / -16.52222; 28.76167
Construction began1955
Opening date1959
Construction costUS$480 million
Owner(s)Zambezi River Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of damArch dam
ImpoundsZambezi River
Height128 m (420 ft)
Length579 m (1,900 ft)
Width (crest)13 metres (43 ft)
Width (base)24 metres (79 ft)
Reservoir
CreatesLake Kariba
Total capacity180 km3 (150,000,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area663,000 km2 (256,000 sq mi)
Surface area5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi)
Maximum length280 km (170 mi)
Maximum water depth97 m (318 ft)
Power Station
TurbinesNorth: 4 x 150 MW (200,000 hp), 2 x 180 MW (240,000 hp) Francis-type
South: 6 x 125 MW (168,000 hp), 2 x 150 MW (200,000 hp) Francis-type
Installed capacityNorth: 960 MW
South: 1,050 MW
Total: 2,010 MW
Annual generation6,400 GWh (23,000 TJ)

The Kariba Dam is a double curvature concrete arch dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam stands 128 metres (420 ft) tall and 579 metres (1,900 ft) long.[1] The dam forms Lake Kariba, which extends for 280 kilometres (170 mi) and holds 185 cubic kilometres (150,000,000 acre⋅ft) of water.

  1. ^ "Kariba Dam". Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Ed. Retrieved 2007-07-31.