Challawa Gorge Dam - Nigeria

The Challawa Gorge dam is a large, man-made reservoir near to the city of Kano, in the northeast of Nigeria. Channelling the Challawa River, it is a reserve of fresh water taken from some of Nigeria's great rivers. The Challawa River is a tributary of the Kano River, which in turn is a tributary of the Hadejia River, one of the largest watercourses in the northeast. The dam, even though it is contained on one of its tributaries, has the influence to affect the whole watercourse.

Originally designed to create hydro-electrical power, it is currently used exclusively to provide water to the city of Kano, due to the high price of installing generating equipment. With potential to serve both hydro-electric and irrigation purposes, there is a chance the functions of the dam will increase in future years. Symbolising change in Nigeria, the Challawa Gorge Dam is a striking feat of engineering.