Lake Kariba

Located 1,300 km (807 mi) upstream from the Indian Ocean and along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is Lake Kariba, the world’s largest human-made reservoir.

The idea for Kariba Dam and thus Lake Kariba came in response to the needs of a hungry nation that decided to control the flow of the Zambezi River. Construction of the dam began in the mid-1950s and Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963. Before the lake was filled, the land was burned to create incredibly fertile soil that became the lake bed resulting in a great deal of vibrant vegetation and ecology today. Kariba Dam provides electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe which helps to support a growing commercial fishing industry.