The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) took time last week, during World Tourism Day to call visitors to Lesotho.
Lesotho and South Africa, have a bilateral agreement for water. This includes a series of dams and tunnels in the Senqu/Orange River and its tributaries in the Lesotho highlands.
The picturesque project also offers an opportunity to view waterscapes.
Other activities include boat rides, fishing, hiking, and birdwatching.
There are 4 popular tourist sites within the project: the Katse Dam, the Mohale Dam, the Muela Hydropower Station and Dam, and the Polihali Dam, which is still underway to be completed in 2027. All these are connected through a network of underground tunnels channeling water to and from the Katse Dam.
The Mohale Dam is the second largest dam in the project, with a wall height of 145 meters. It is located on the Senqunyane River, and forms a reservoir that covers an area of 32 square kilometers.
The Muela Hydropower Station is the only power-generating facility in the project. It is located on the Muela River, downstream from the Katse Dam. It has an installed capacity of 72 megawatts, which meets most of Lesotho’s electricity demand.
Picture: istock