Kariba Dam is on the Zambezi River between the Zimbabwe and Zambia border. It is one of the largest in the world and second largest hydroelectric project in Africa. The Dam wall was designed by an Italian Firm and construction started in 1955. It is about 128m high and 579 m long, with a reinforced concrete bridge along the top of the wall. Today the dam is the major hydro electric power station in Zimbabwe and supplies 1,266 MW of electricity to parts of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The reservoir created by the dam, Lake Kariba, extends South-West for 280km. The dam was officially opened in 1959. During construction about 86 workers died and a stained glass and stone St Barbara's Chapel was built as a memorial. Today the dam is a popular resort with a great commercial fishing centre. Activities include game viewing by canoe or houseboat, angling, skiing, diving and sailing. The name is derived from the word Kariva, meaning trap. There is a rock jutting out from the gorge where the dam wall was built and it was believed to be the home of the river god Nyaminyami. This rock thrust out of the swirling water at the entrance to the Kariba gorge in Siavonga. It is now buried more than a hundred feet below the water surface. Legend has it that this rock was the home of the great River God Nyaminyami who caused anyone who ventured too close to it to be sucked down for ever into the depths of the river. This rock and the water are now trapped – hence the name Kariba.

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