Kaptai Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Kaptai Lake
image_lake = Kaptai_lake01.jpg
caption_lake =
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location = South-Eastern Bangladesh
coords = coord|22|29|45|N|92|13|45|E|type:waterbody_region:BD|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Karnaphuli River
outflow = Karnaphuli River
catchment = 11,000 km²
basin_countries = Bangladesh
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Kaptai Lake is a man-made lake in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is located in the Kaptai Upazila of 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.

History

Construction of the reservoir for the hydro-electric plant began in 1956.Daily JaiJaiDin, January 10, 2008. Page 10.] As a result, convert|54000|acre|km2 of farmland in the Rangamati District went under water and created the lake.

The hydro-electric project was funded by the United States. The project was finished in 1962. International Engineering Company and Utah International Inc. received the contract for construction of the dam. The dam is 670.6 meters long, and 54.7 meters high. The dam has a convert|745|ft|m long spillway containing 16 gates. Through the spillway 5,25,000 cusec of water can pass every second.

The land that went under water as a result of the dam construction, was 40% of the total arable land in the area. Along with that, convert|29|sqmi|km2 of the Government-owned forest, and convert|234|sqmi|km2 of other forest land went under water. About 18,000 families with a total of almost 100 thousand people were also displaced. The palace of the king of the Chakmas was also flooded and is now under water.

References

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