Visit Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

By volume, Lake Kariba is the largest artificial lake and reservoir in the world; it is over 140 miles long and up to 20 miles in width.

It is located on the Zambezi River, about halfway between the river's source and mouth, about 800 miles upstream from the Indian Ocean, and lies along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963 following the completion of the Kariba Dam, flooding the Kariba Gorge on the Zambezi River.

Before Lake Kariba was filled, the existing vegetation was burned, creating a thick layer of fertile soil on land that would become the lake bed.

As a result the ecology of Lake Kariba is vibrant, including fish such as the kapenta and tiger fish, crocodile, elephant, hippopotamus and abundant birdlife such as the fish eagle and cormorant.

A particularly atmospheric and beautiful lake, Lake Kariba will no doubt enchant you with spectacular sunsets and dramatic vistas.