Zaza Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Zaza Reservoir is the largest man-made reservoir
in Cuba
. It is located in the Sancti Spíritus Province
in central Cuba, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south-east of the city of Sancti Spíritus and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north-west of La Sierpe
. It has a water mirror area of 113.5 km² (43.8 sq mi). and an average volume of 750,000,000 m³.
It was developed on the course of the Zaza River, which flows from Sierra del Escambray to the Tunas Channel in the Caribbean Sea
and is Cuba's second longest river (after Rio Cauto
). Other rivers that empty into the reservoir include the Yayabo, Taguasco and Tuinucú Rivers.
The 6 km (3.7 mi) long dam
was built over a 3 year period and was completed on December 7, 1971, at a cost of 27 million Cuban peso
s. A hydroelectric plant was subsequently added in 1978.
The water of the reservoir is used to irrigate
the farmlands to the south all the way to the Caribbean coast. Fishing (both leisure and commercial) is also an important activity on the reservoir. One of the largest fresh water fish in the world, arapaima gigas, was introduced to the waters in 1980.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It is located in the Sancti Spíritus Province
Sancti Spíritus Province
Sancti Spíritus is one of the provinces of Cuba. Its capital is the identically named Sancti Spíritus. Another major city is Trinidad.The southern coast of the province is flat, but the western portion of Sancti Spíritus province is mountainous. The southeast has numerous mangroves and swamps...
in central Cuba, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south-east of the city of Sancti Spíritus and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north-west of La Sierpe
La Sierpe, Cuba
La Sierpe is a municipality and city in the Sancti Spíritus Province of Cuba. It is located in the south-eastern part of the province, from Sancti Spiritus, the provincial capital. It borders the Gulf of Ana Maria of the Caribbean Sea to the south and the province of Ciego de Ávila to the...
. It has a water mirror area of 113.5 km² (43.8 sq mi). and an average volume of 750,000,000 m³.
It was developed on the course of the Zaza River, which flows from Sierra del Escambray to the Tunas Channel in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and is Cuba's second longest river (after Rio Cauto
Río Cauto
Rio Cauto can refer to:* Cauto River the longest river in Cuba* Río Cauto, Cuba, a municipality and City in Granma Province, Cuba...
). Other rivers that empty into the reservoir include the Yayabo, Taguasco and Tuinucú Rivers.
The 6 km (3.7 mi) long dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
was built over a 3 year period and was completed on December 7, 1971, at a cost of 27 million Cuban peso
Cuban peso
The peso is one of two official currencies in use in Cuba, the other being the convertible peso...
s. A hydroelectric plant was subsequently added in 1978.
The water of the reservoir is used to irrigate
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
the farmlands to the south all the way to the Caribbean coast. Fishing (both leisure and commercial) is also an important activity on the reservoir. One of the largest fresh water fish in the world, arapaima gigas, was introduced to the waters in 1980.