Kariba Dam
Mashonaland West
Kariba Dam is a monumental double curvature concrete arch dam located in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi River basin, straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Standing 128 meters tall and 579 meters long, it forms Lake Kariba, one of the world's largest man-made lakes, stretching 280 kilometers and holding 185 cubic kilometers of water. Constructed between 1955 and 1959 under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the dam was engineered by a joint venture including Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners and Coyne et Bellier. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1960. The dam plays a vital role in regional power supply, generating over 2,000 megawatts shared between the two countries, with power stations on each side. Zimbabwe's Kariba South power station was expanded between 2014 and 2018 to increase capacity, while Zambia's Kariba North station also underwent upgrades. The dam's creation led to the displacement of approximately 57,000 Tonga people, highlighting significant social and environmental impacts. Today, Kariba Dam remains a crucial infrastructure asset and a notable engineering feat in southern Africa.
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Tip: The best time to visit Kariba Dam is during the dry season when weather conditions are favorable. Visitors should check in advance for guided tours and local regulations. Advance arrangements may be necessary for access to power station areas. While there are no specific ticket prices for visiting the dam itself, exploring Lake Kariba and surrounding recreational areas offers additional attractions. Visitors are advised to respect local communities and environmental guidelines during their visit.
Interesting facts
- •Kariba Dam is one of the largest concrete arch dams in the world, standing 128 meters tall and 579 meters long.
- •Lake Kariba, formed by the dam, extends 280 kilometers and holds 185 cubic kilometers of water, making it one of the largest man-made lakes globally.
- •The dam was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1960.
- •The dam's construction cost was approximately $480 million, with the initial phase costing $135 million.
- •During construction, 86 workers lost their lives.
- •The Kariba Dam supplies over 2,000 megawatts of electricity shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- •Zimbabwe's Kariba South power station was expanded between 2014 and 2018, increasing capacity by 300 megawatts.
History
The Kariba Dam was constructed from 1955 to 1959 by an international engineering consortium, officially opened in 1960 by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Initially managed by the Central African Power Corporation under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, ownership transferred to the Zambezi River Authority after Zambia and Zimbabwe's independence.
The dam's construction was marked by the loss of 86 workers and significant political challenges that delayed completion of the northern power cavern until 1977.
Subsequent decades saw expansions of power generation capacity, notably Zimbabwe's Kariba South station upgrade completed in 2018 and Zambia's Kariba North station expansion in 2013.
