Kariba Dam

Kariba Dam
The dam as seen from Zimbabwe
Location	Zambia Zimbabwe
Coordinates	16°31′20″S 28°45′42″E / 16.52222°S 28.76167°E / -16.52222; 28.76167
Construction began	1955
Opening date	1959
Construction cost	US$480 million
Owner(s)	Zambezi River Authority
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch dam
Impounds	Zambezi River
Height	128 m (420 ft)
Length	579 m (1,900 ft)
Width (crest)	13 metres (43 ft)
Width (base)	24 metres (79 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Kariba
Total capacity	180 km3 (150,000,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	663,000 km2 (256,000 sq mi)
Surface area	5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi)
Maximum length	280 km (170 mi)
Maximum water depth	97 m (318 ft)
Power Station
Turbines	North: 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 capacity	North: 960 MW South: 1,050 MW Total: 2,010 MW
Annual generation	6,400 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.