Kaptai Lake

Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
	Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
Location	South-Eastern Bangladesh
Coordinates	22°29′45″N 92°13′45″E / 22.49583°N 92.22917°E
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Karnaphuli River
Primary outflows	Karnaphuli River
Catchment area	11,122 km2 (4,294 sq mi) [original research?]
Basin countries	Bangladesh
Surface area	688 km2
Average depth	100 ft (30 m)
Max. depth	175 ft (53 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 Karnafuli Hydropower Station. Kaptai Lake's average depth is 100 feet (30 m) and maximum depth is 175 feet (53 m).

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]