Kariba Dam water reaching critical levels
---------------------------------------------
A months-long drought across parts of southern Africa has seriously affected water levels in the Kariba Dam, threatening hydroelectric plants that Zimbabwe and Zambia depend on for the bulk of their power
---------------------------------------------
Harare
Lusaka
Lake Kariba
ZIMBABWE 
SOUTH AFRICA
BOTSWANA
DEM. REP. OF CONGO
ANGOLA
MALAWI
ZAMBIA
TANZANIA
Lake Malawi
River Zambezi
MOZAMBIQUE
Lake Cahora Bassa
INDIAN OCEAN

200km 125 miles
---------------------------------------------
Kariba Dam
Water levels at 10% of usable storage – lowest since 1996 and worse than 11% recorded during 2016 drought
---------------------------------------------
KARIBA RESERVOIR

Comparison of water levels
(m) 
487
485
483
481
479
477
475
     Min. operating level *To Dec 9
     Year from Oct to Sep

Full supply level
2017 / 18
2018 / 19 
2019 / 20*
1995 / 96
---------------------------------------------
Kariba is biggest dam in world by water storage capacity
---------------------------------------------

Sources: Bloomberg, Zambezi River Authority
Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS