Cahora Bassa

Cahora Bassa refers to the large reservoir and associated dam on the Zambezi River in central Mozambique’s Tete Province, created by a major hydroelectric project in the 20th century. It is one of the country’s most significant hydroelectric and water-storage works.

The site comprises the dam structure and an extensive artificial lake whose shoreline and channels are used for fishing and local transport, with varying water levels through the year. The project has had major economic and environmental impacts on the river valley.

Construction and commissioning of the dam took place in the later decades of the 20th century, after which the reservoir became an important regional resource for power generation and navigation.

Cahora Bassa lies on the Zambezi in Tete Province approximately inland from the Mozambican coast and is accessible from regional towns and service roads in central Mozambique.

• Infrastructure importance: The reservoir and dam are major elements of Mozambique's hydroelectric infrastructure and have shaped regional transport and fisheries along the upper Zambezi.

What to See #

• Cahora Bassa Dam: The large concrete hydroelectric dam structure that controls Zambezi flows and generates power for Mozambique and neighbouring regions.
• Cahora Bassa reservoir (lake): One of Africa's large reservoirs formed by the dam, with lengthy shoreline and seasonal changes in water extent used for fishing and transport.