Hydrological modelling of the Zambezi catchment for ... - TU Delft

PROBLEM ANALYSIS
large tributary, although its contribution to the main river discharge is small. Because
Cuando-Chobe is low and swampy area evaporation plays a major part (Chapagain, 2000).
Figure 2.10: Soil classification map [2] of the Zambezi catchment. In Appendix 2 a short description of
the soil types can be found.
After the confluence of the Barotse and the Cuando-Chobe basin into the Middle Zambezi the
terrain changes (Shahin, 2002). From Victoria Falls the Zambezi flows through a narrow
gorge, with waterfalls and rapids. The gorge is excavated in crushed rock produced by fault
lines.
The Zambezi follows its way to the Kariba Reservoir. This reservoir is an artificial lake
formed by the Kariba Dam, which was build in 1961 (Index of World lakes). The lake has a
surface area of about 4422 km². The Kariba Dam was mainly build for the generation of
hydropower and has an installed capacity of 1266 MW (Chapagain, 2000).
About 150 km downstream of the outlet of Lake Kariba, the Zambezi River confluences with
the tributary of the Kafue basin. In the Kafue sub basin two dams are build in the river: the
Itezhitezhi dam and the dam at Kafue Gorge. The dams were constructed to generate
hydropower.
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