Drought in Lake Kariba, Zambia
Located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba is the largest man-made lake in the world. It is home to the essential Kariba Dam, which provides over 80% of Zambia's national electricity supply. However, recent effects of El Niño and rising temperatures have intensified drought conditions in the region, threatening the sustainability of the dam’s hydroelectric station. Low water levels have led to less than 10% of the normal output of the station and have impacted Zambians' access to electricity.
In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image acquired on 10 October 2024, the Kariba dam is visible to the east. Along the northern shore, northwest of the city of Siavonga, the significant drop in the lake’s water level reveals more coastline than usual.
Data from the Global Drought Observatory, managed by the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, provides important insights into the ongoing drought in southern Africa and its consequences on local communities.
