D is for Dam

Rainfall in Zimbabwe varies a lot. It is high in the Eastern Highlands and very low in the extreme south. Prolonged droughts are common. So storage dams are essential as reliable sources of water for domestic, industrial, agricultural and mining use.

 

There are many dams in Zimbabwe, Kariba being the largest.

 

Kariba Dam as seen from the South bank of the Zambezi River (photo released into the public domain by its author, Benbbb at the English Wikipedia project)

Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world, standing 128 m (420 ft) tall and 579 m (1,900 ft) long.

It was built between 1955 and 1959 and created the largest man-made lake in the world. The first power station was built underground on the South Bank. Later, a second power station was built on the North Bank. This one was completed in 1976.

From 1960 to 1961, 'Operation Noah' rescued thousands of large animals and numerous small ones from the lake's rising waters and relocated them.

It never rains, but it pours...

Not looking good for walkies!

The Met Office had been telling us it was going to rain. Don't we all complain about the times they've been wrong?

On Monday afternoon, the sea was looking menacing. Well it's been like this before and then - nothing.

On Tuesday I was taking photos in my sunny garden:

Orange blossom- I wish you could smell it!

Yesterday I walked the dogs and it was overcast - but no rain. 

Then last night it finally rained! Yay! The Algarve sure needs some rain after a very dry winter.

And today? 

First it was grey and overcast, then it was sunny, then it was grey again. I took the dogs and an umbrella for a walk but it didn't rain. 

So I thought: that's all the rain we're going to get. Then I decided to take out the trash - that means wheeling the wheelie bin down the road to the big bin. I picked up the umbrella again, just in case, and off I went. 

I was just beginning my way back to the house when suddenly the heavens opened up. I had to pin myself against a wall, open my umbrella and wait. I couldn't make a run for it. Well, not against the wind and rain and hale and pulling along a wheelie bin!

Oops! It could get worse and it did! 

I discovered I was too near the raging river road and cars were driving by. The only thing between my getting completely drenched by the splashes the cars made was the wheelie bin.

It was all over in less than 5 minutes!

I rushed home to change out of my wet clothes and soggy shoes to be greeted by drenched dogs! 

The silly things hadn't been smart enough to take shelter under the carport! Arrgh!