Massingir Dam

The Massingir Dam is a dam on the Rio dos Elefantes ( Olifants, Lepelle ) in the province of Gaza in Mozambique. It was named after the town in the district of Massingir Massingir. The shut-off of Massingir Dam is a Erdschüttdamm. It is 46 m high and 4600 m long.

Architectural History

Construction began in 1971 during the colonial period by a Portuguese company. Before the dam was completed in 1975, Mozambique became independent and the works were interrupted, it lacked above all the sluice gates ( shut-off devices ). The following civil war prevented the FRELIMO government on the completion, the building site was occupied by the RENAMO.

After political reforms in Mozambique began in 1988 restoration work on the dam. With a loan of $ 800 million from the African Development Bank finally succeeded in the government in October 2006 to complete the dam and at the same time to increase the dam.

Alligator Gorge

The Massingir Dam is situated in the Limpopo National Park. The area is an important area for the propagation of the Nile crocodile. That's why there were concerns the Kruger National Park management regarding the flooding of the Olifants Gorge, because these areas could be destroyed. Currently, the dam is located in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

Caused the higher dam to accumulate sediments in the 8-km Crocodile Gorge. This gorge is not accessible for tourists and the world's largest breeding grounds for the Nile crocodile.