The lake is around 220 kilometers (140 mi) long and up to 40 kilometers (20 mi) wide and when measured by volume the largest artificial lake and reservoir in the world. It is located on the Zambezi river, about halfway between the river’s source and mouth, about 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, and lies along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba was filled between 1958 and 1963 following the completion of the Kariba Dam. The Zimbabwean town of Kariba was built for construction workers on the lake’s dam, and today the town is used as a base for houseboat safaris and is the main airstrip for those flying into different National Parks such as Mana Pools in the Lower Zambezi and Matusadona National Park on the shores of Lake Kariba. Before Lake Kariba was filled, the vegetation was burned, creating a thick layer of fertile soil that would become the lake bed. As a result the ecology of Lake Kariba is vibrant. A number of fish species have been introduced to the lake, notably the sardine-like kapenta (transported from Lake Tanganyika), which now supports a thriving commercial fishery. Lake Kariba is also home to Nile crocodiles and hippopotamus. Gamefish, particularly Tigerfish, which was among the indigenous species of the Zambezi river system, now thrive on the kapenta, which in turn encourage tourism. Sunsets and safaris are known to be first class here.