Kaptai Lake is the biggest man-made Lake in Bangladesh. It is situated in the Kaptai Upazila under Rangamati District of Chittagong Division. The Lake was created as a result of building the Kaptai Dam on the Karnafuli River, as part of the Karnafuli Hydro-electric project. The Kaptai Lakes normal profundity in 100 feet (30 m) and the most extreme profundity is 490 feet (150 m).
Kaptai Lake is a beautiful blue man-made watery Lake. The size of this Lake is approximately 11000 square kilometers, which was created as a reservoir when the Kaptai Dam was built during 1960. This astounding Lake was made by flooding valleys and plain grounds between various hills all around the Lake. Kaptai has Bangladesh‘s just Hydro-electric project. The Kaptai Dam on the Karnafuli River created for this purpose resulted in the kaptai Lake. This made a beguiling perspective as forested hills and plateaus ascend from underneath the wonderful Lake water.
Kaptai Lake is the biggest man-made freshwater body in Bangladesh. Though created primarily for hydroelectric power generation, it contributes to producing a significant quantity of freshwater fishes, navigation food control and agriculture etc. The reservoir was created by damming the river karnafuli near Kaptai town in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Latitude 220 09 N and Longitude 920 17 E). The Lake is restricted to the hill district Rangamati and grasps the Upazilas of Rangamati Sadar, Kaptai, Nannerchar, Langadu, Baghaichchari, Barkal, Jaraichchari and Belaichchari.
History Of Kaptai Lake:
Construction of the reservoir for the hydro-electric plant began in 1956 by the Government of East Pakistan. As a result, 54,000 acres (220 km) of farmland in the Rangamati District went 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 670.8 meters long, and 54.7 meters high. The dam has a 745 feet (227 m) long spillway containing 16 entryways. Through the spillway 5,250,000 cu ft/s (149,000 m/s) of water can pass.
The land that went submerged because of the dam development, was 40% of the all-out arable land in the territory. Along with that, 29 square miles (75 km) of the government-owned forest, and 234 square miles (610 km) of other forest land went under water Around 18,000 families with an aggregate of just about 100 thousand individuals were likewise uprooted. The royal residence of the lord of the Chakmas was additionally overflowed and is currently submerged.
The ‘H’- formed kaptai Lake has two arms, joined by a tight canyon close Shubalong, a piece of the old Karnafuli stream. Kasalong, the right arm of the Lake is fed by two streams, the Mayni and the Kasalong, in the North and laterally by the Karnafuli. The left arm, Rangamati-Kaptai is fed by two streams, the chengi in the north and the RINKHYONG in the south. The Karnafuli forms three prominent loops one at Rangamati, one at Dhuliachchari and the other at Kaptai. The Rangamati and the Dhuliachchari loops are now under the reservoir of the earth-filled Dam.
The Kaptai Lake has suffocated nearly the entirety of the center Karnafuli valley and the lower ranges of the Chengi, Kasalong and Rinkhyong streams. The shoreline and the Basin of Kaptai Lake are exceptionally unpredictable. Its significant morphometric and hydrographic highlights are as per the following: surface height 31.1m, surface territory 58,300 ha, volume 524,700 cu m, all-out yearly release 1,707,000 cu m, stockpiling proportion 0.31, mean profundity 9m, most extreme profundity 32m, outlet profundity 15.5m mean yearly water level variance 8.14m, developing season365 days, all-out disintegrated solids 76 ppm and explicit conductance 144 mhos at 250 C.
Kaptai Lake Ticket Price:
This is a place of natural beauty. So there’s no ticket price at all.
Off Day:
There’s no off day by any means.
Address, Location Or How to Visit Kaptai Lake:
Kaptai Upazila, Rangamati, Bangladesh.
Kaptai Lake is situated in Rangamati Sadar Upazila. Subsequent to coming to Rangamati take nearby transport to visit this lake.
Chittagong to Kaptai Lake Distance:
The distance between Chittagong and Kaptai Lake is 79.2 km According to Google Map
Where to Stay:
Some of the hotels/motels in Rangamati are listed below for your assistance.
Hotel Golden Hill
Address: Reserve Bazar Rangamati
Contact Number: 01820 304714
Hotel Green Castle
Address: Reserve Bazar Rangamati
Contact Number: 61200
Most Attractive Things – What You Can See in Kaptai Lake:
Spotted with Islands, Kaptai is Bangladesh’s greatest artificial Lake, made in 1960 for a hydroelectric venture. It’s a beautiful spot and very popular with Bengali sightseers, but because of permit restrictions, the number of places foreigners the visit on the Lake is constrained.
The most popular trip is Shuvalong falls (90 minutes one way). This unobtrusive waterfall is minimal in excess of a stream for the vast majority of the year. Be that as it may, the boat excursion out to it is astounding; first intersection the immense span of the primary lake, at that point entering a territory of Islands secured with banana plants and an at last an emotional go through a lofty sided gorge.
The Hanging Bridge, a low suspension associate, not far from the Parjatan Holiday Complex, is another outstanding boat trip goal. The little Chakma Island at the opposite finish of Rangamati is another, prominent vessel stop, although, similar to the Hanging Bridge, they can likewise be come to via land. Another famous outing with nearby vacationers is the two-hour ride to Kaptai Town yet the town itself is somewhat of a dump.
There are small boat ghats all around the lake but the main two are Reserved-Bazar Ghat and Tobolchuri Ghat. Passenger ferries shuttle locals from Reserves-Bazar to places such as Kaptai Town. They are sometimes reluctant to take foreigners, but you can get to Shuvalong falls for Taka 50 if they let you on. Otherwise, you will have to hire your own boat. Prizes depend largely on your bargaining skills. At the time of research, Taka 600 per boat per hour was the going rate.
A stretch of road connects the tourists’ spots of Rangamati and Kaptai. The dam is 670.8 meters long, and 54.7 meters high. The government of Bangladesh runs Tourism Corporation and many operators offer Kaptai lake cruise tours which are worthy of it. Other grand spots are additionally available through the conduits. Cruising on the Kaptai Lake is a pleasant method for watching the scene the same number of incredible excursion spots normal milestones and noteworthy landmarks are open just by boat.