India, May 22 -- After a decade of erratic rains and heatwaves that devastated Lake Kariba's levels, new inflows from the upper Zambezi are lifting the reservoir and restoring hope.

Higher waters are expected to reduce power cuts, expand fish breeding grounds, improve catches and incomes for fishers, and revive boat-based tourism.

It will also lower dangerous encounters between people and crocodiles.

Built in the 1950s to generate electricity, Lake Kariba in Zambia and Zimbabwe has since supported activities such as tourism, fishing and conservation. All of these are affected by changes in water levels.

The 40 kilometres (km) wide and 223 km long Lake Kariba is the largest human created lake by volume. It typically undergoes seasonal ...