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November 29, 2025 - Lake Kariba
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Lake Kariba—one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world—straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It first began to fill in 1958, when the sluice gates of the freshly-completed Kariba Dam across the Zambezi River were closed. Maximum water levels were reached in 1963, which allowed nearly ten liters of water to pass through the spillway each second, generating hydroelectric power for use across Zambia and Zimbabwe. The reservoir has also proven itself as an important resource for agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
Since its inception, the lake’s water levels has seen ups and down due to variations in water use and climate patterns. Recurring drought, in particular, has driven water levels down repeatedly, hindering maximum hydroelectric output. Ground-based water gauge data from the Zambezi River Authority showed water level dropped to a record low of 475.6 meters on December 30, 2022. The minimum operating level for power generation is 475.50 meters but power rationing generally drops below 480 meters because power stations begin to run at reduced capacity.
By mid-March 2023, seasonal rains had improved the water level, which reached 477.90 meters. However, according to data from the Zambezi River Authority, the water level remained below 480 meters throughout 2023, 2024, and 2025. On November 22, 2025, the day that the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of Kariba Lake, water levels were 476.54 meters, or only 7.2 percent full. That’s slightly above the level recorded on the same date in 2024, but still far below optimal.
ReliefWeb expressed concern for energy security in the region, stating on November 19 that, “The Kariba Dam remains critically low at 8.09% of capacity as of 10 November 2025, with forecasts indicating it may approach minimum operating levels by year-end, continuing to severely constrain power generation in Zambia and Zimbabwe and disrupting irrigation, industrial activities, and agricultural operations requiring electricity.” On November 25, the weekly report from the Zambezi River Authority seemed to echo at least part of the concern, stating, “The Lake level is steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 476.49m (6.86% usable storage) as of 25th November 2025, compared to 476.00m (3.51% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year.”
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/22/2025
Resolutions:
1km (121.5 KB), 500m (310.1 KB), 250m (387.5 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Lake Kariba—one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world—straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It first began to fill in 1958, when the sluice gates of the freshly-completed Kariba Dam across the Zambezi River were closed. Maximum water levels were reached in 1963, which allowed nearly ten liters of water to pass through the spillway each second, generating hydroelectric power for use across Zambia and Zimbabwe. The reservoir has also proven itself as an important resource for agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
Since its inception, the lake’s water levels has seen ups and down due to variations in water use and climate patterns. Recurring drought, in particular, has driven water levels down repeatedly, hindering maximum hydroelectric output. Ground-based water gauge data from the Zambezi River Authority showed water level dropped to a record low of 475.6 meters on December 30, 2022. The minimum operating level for power generation is 475.50 meters but power rationing generally drops below 480 meters because power stations begin to run at reduced capacity.
By mid-March 2023, seasonal rains had improved the water level, which reached 477.90 meters. However, according to data from the Zambezi River Authority, the water level remained below 480 meters throughout 2023, 2024, and 2025. On November 22, 2025, the day that the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of Kariba Lake, water levels were 476.54 meters, or only 7.2 percent full. That’s slightly above the level recorded on the same date in 2024, but still far below optimal.
ReliefWeb expressed concern for energy security in the region, stating on November 19 that, “The Kariba Dam remains critically low at 8.09% of capacity as of 10 November 2025, with forecasts indicating it may approach minimum operating levels by year-end, continuing to severely constrain power generation in Zambia and Zimbabwe and disrupting irrigation, industrial activities, and agricultural operations requiring electricity.” On November 25, the weekly report from the Zambezi River Authority seemed to echo at least part of the concern, stating, “The Lake level is steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 476.49m (6.86% usable storage) as of 25th November 2025, compared to 476.00m (3.51% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year.”
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/22/2025
Resolutions:
1km (121.5 KB), 500m (310.1 KB), 250m (387.5 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
