Kaptai Lake

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Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
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Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
LocationSouth-Eastern Bangladesh
Coordinates 22°29′45″N92°13′45″E / 22.49583°N 92.22917°E / 22.49583; 92.22917
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Karnaphuli River
Primary outflows Karnaphuli River
Catchment area 11,122 km2 (4,294 sq mi) [ original research? ]
Basin  countriesBangladesh
Average depth100 ft (30 m)
Max. depth495 ft (151 m)

Kaptai Lake is the largest man-made lake in Bangladesh. [1] It is located in the Kaptai Upazila under Rangamati District of Chittagong Division. The lake was created as a result of building the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River, as part of the Karnaphuli Hydro-electric project. Kaptai Lake's average depth is 100 feet (30 m) and maximum depth is 490 feet (150 m).

Contents

History

Construction of the reservoir for the hydro-electric plant began in 1956 by the Government of East Pakistan. [2] 54,000 acres (220 km2) of farmland in the Rangamati District was submerged with the creation of the lake. The project was finished in 1961. [3] 40% of the total arable land went underwater as a result of the dam construction and 100,000 people were displaced. [3] The palace of the king of the Chakmas was also flooded and is also underwater. [2] The International Engineering Company and Utah International Inc. received the contract for the construction of the dam. The dam is 670.8 meters long, and 54.7 meters high. [1]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Amin, Sakib Bin (2021). The Economy of Tourism in Bangladesh: Prospects, Constraints, and Policies. Springer Nature. ISBN   9783030729004.
  2. 1 2 Daily JaiJaiDin, January 10, 2008. Page 10.
  3. 1 2 Schendel, Willem van (202). A History of Bangladesh. Cambridge University Press. p. 171. ISBN   9781108620338.