Was began by the Portuguese government in the 1960s, but was only completed in 1997 (due to civil war).
It is the largest HEP scheme in southern Africa, with a surface area second only Nassar behind Egypt's huge Aswan dam.
Three major dams have been constructed in the River Zambei Basin, but Cahora Bassa is the most recent and potentially the most important.
It has a catchment area of 56,972km²
The lake is 292km long
The maximum width of the lake is 38km
The surface area of the lake is 2,739m
The average depth of the lake is 20.9m
The maximum depth of the lake is 157m
Successes
Some communities are protected from flooding.
Money generated for the economy.
Problems
Only 1% of Mozambique's homes still have a direct electricity supply - most of the power has been sold to South Africa, which makes money for the economy but does little for the country's citizens.
The Cahora Bassa dam has a much greater potential than it produces, and could provide the whole of Mozambique with all the power it needs for the forseeable future, as long as some other projects are also developed to serve the most rural areas.
Having 3 dams in one basin has caused environmental damage.
River flow is low because so much water is held in resevoirs.
The shrimp fishing industry in the lower valley has been almost destroyed.