Cahora Bassa Dam

Cahora Bassa Dam
Cahora Bassa Dam, 2007
Location of Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique
Location	Tete, Mozambique
Coordinates	15°35′09″S 32°42′17″E / 15.58583°S 32.70472°E / -15.58583; 32.70472
Construction began	1969
Opening date	1979
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Zambezi River
Height	171 m (561 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Cahora Bassa Lake
Total capacity	55.8 km3 (45,200,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	56,927 km2 (21,980 sq mi)
Surface area	2,739 km2 (1,058 sq mi)
Maximum water depth	157 m (515 ft)
Power Station
Turbines	5 × 415 MW (557,000 hp) Francis-type
Installed capacity	2,075 MW (2,783,000 hp)

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The Cahora Bassa Dam is located in Mozambique. It is one of two major dams on the Zambezi river, the other being the Kariba. The project began to come online in 1979 after much political debate.^[1] This dam uses the Zambezi River water to generate electricity by turning turbines. That energy is then sent to South Africa.^[2] The Cahora Bassa Dam forms Cahora Bassa Lake. The dam is jointly owned by Mozambique and Portugal. From independence until 2007, eighteen percent share of the dam and lake was owned by Mozambique and eighty-two percent by Portugal.^[3] Portugal sold down its share to 15 percent in 2007.^[4] The Cahora Bassa Dam is the largest hydroelectric power plant in southern Africa and the most efficient power generating station in Mozambique.