RHODESIA: HUGE WEED MASS CLOGS LAKE KARIBA, THREATENS DAM

Record ID: 635275

  • Title: RHODESIA: HUGE WEED MASS CLOGS LAKE KARIBA, THREATENS DAM
  • Date: 8th September 1961
  • Summary: 1. GV KARIBA DAM PAN OVER WATER 0.06 2. LV WEED FLOATING ON SURFACE 0.12 3. CU DITTO 0.15 4. TRAVEL SHOT.. DITTO 0.18 5. SV BOAT BEING PADDLED THROUGH WEEDS 0.22 6. CU WEEDS PAN UP TO MAN SPRAYING 0.27 7. CU MAN WITH HANDFUL OF WEEDS 0.30 8. CU WEEDS 0.33 9. GV PAN OVER WATER 0.37 Initials PGR/S/PB PGR/
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 1961 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LAKE KARIBA, RHODESIA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVA36PHJEZB42PXH0SY5CZYS6NOZ
  • Story Text: HUGE MASSES OF FERN-LIKE WATER WEED ARE CLOGGING VAST AREAS OF LAKE KARIBA BACKING ON THE MIGHTY KARIBA DAM, RHODESIA. ALREADY THE WEED COVERS ABOUT 200 SQUARE MILES OF THE LAKE'S SURFACE.

    THE WEED, A SMALL GREEN PLANE ABOUT THREE INCHES IN DIAMETER, HAS SCORES OF ROOTS WHICH ENTWINE WITH OTHER PLANTS, FORMING A SOLID FLOATING MASS THAT HAS SERIOUSLY RESTRICTED NAVIGATION AND FISHING.

    ENGINEERS AT THE KARIBA DAM FEAR IT MAY POSE A GRAVE HAZARD TO HYDRO-ELECTRIC GENERATORS AT THE DAM AS CURRENTS AND WINDS MOVE THE WEED SLOWLY DOWNSTREAM. SO FAR NO EFFECTIVE WAY OF COMBATING THE WEED HAS BEEN FOUND. BUT GOVERNMENT EXPERTS ARE CONSIDERING CONTROLLING THE MENACE BY EITHER MECHANICAL MEANS OR WEED-KILLERS -- OR BY INTRODUCING CERTAIN FISH LIFE THAT MIGHT THRIVE ON THE WEED.

    ANOTHER METHOD THOUGH POSSIBLE IS TO HARVEST THE WEED FOR WOOD PULP, FERTILIZER OR CATTLE FOOD.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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