3.6 Water supply in a country or area: Lesotho

Where is Lesotho located?

• South-eastern Africa`

• South-western Africa

• North-eastern Africa

• North-western Africa

Which of the following are Lesotho's main exports?

• Gold

• Diamonds

• Water

• Rice

What is the Lesotho Highlands water project?

• A water transfer project involving the damming some of Lesotho’s major rivers – most of which flow south into the Orange River in South Africa.

• A water transfer project involving the damming some of Lesotho’s major rivers – most of which flow south into the Red River in South Africa.

• A water transfer project involving the damming some of Lesotho’s major rivers – most of which flow south into the Blue River in South Africa.

• A water transfer project involving the damming some of Lesotho’s major rivers – most of which flow south into the Green River in South Africa.

What is the name of Lesotho's biggest dam?

• Katsu Dam

• Catsi Dame

• Katse Dam

• Katsi Dam

When was the Katse dam built?

• 1997

• 1998

• 1999

• 2000

How much does South Africa pay Lesotho for the water it supplies?

• $1.5 million per month

• $1.6 million per month

• $1.7 million per month

• $1.8 million per month

Which of the following is NOT a reason why Lesotho was chosen for the Highlands water project?

• High rainfall levels – over 1,000mm per year – this represents more water than Lesotho itself could possibly use.

• Water originating in the mountains is pure and unpolluted.

• Deep, steep-sided valleys provide excellent dam sites.

• An area of high earthquake risk.

Which of the following is the water from the highlands project used for within Lesotho?

• Irrigation of agriculture

• HEP

• Drinking water

• Manufacturing industry

Which of the following are are the negative impacts of the project?

• Hundreds of kilometres or tarred roads were built during the construction. Local people have benefited from improved accessibility to markets and towns.

• The Katse Botanical Gardens were constructed to 149 plant species from flooding.

• Fish populations which depended on the flow of the river have been affected as they cannot follow their usual migratory patterns downstream.

• The flooding of the valleys resulted in loss of houses, land and resources for 20,000 people

Which of the following are positive impacts of the project?

• 4,000 people got temporary jobs during the construction of the Katse Dam (construction, food vendors and shopkeepers)

• Many people were compensated, but there have been complaints that such compensation was not sufficient

• The Maluti Minnow (a local species of small fish) is being monitored to ensure the health of the river ecosystem.

• The new dams threatened the important alpine vegetation.