Lake Volta
View from space (April 1993)
Location	west east
Coordinates	6°30′N 0°0′E / 6.5°N 0°E / 6.5; 0Coordinates: 6°30′N 0°0′E / 6.5°N 0°E / 6.5; 0
Lake type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	White Volta River Black Volta River
Primary outflows	Volta River
Catchment area	385,180 km2 (148,720 sq mi)
Basin countries	Ghana
Surface area	8,502 km2 (3,283 sq mi)
Average depth	18.8 m (62 ft)
Max. depth	75 m (250 ft)
Water volume	148 km3 (57,000 sq mi)
Shore length1	4,800 km (16,000,000 ft)
Surface elevation	85 m (280 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Volta (located at 6°30′N 0°0′E / 6.5°N 0°E / 6.5; 0) is the largest reservoir by surface area in the world, and the fourth largest one by water volume. It is located completely within the country of Ghana, and it has a surface area of about 8,502 km² (3,275 square miles). Lake Volta lies along the Greenwich Meridian, and just six degrees of latitude north of the Equator. The lake's northmost point is close to the town of Yapei, and its southmost extreme is at the Akosombo Dam, 520 kilometers downstream from Yapei. Akosombo Dam holds back both the White Volta River and the Black Volta River, which formerly converged, where the middle of the reservoir now lies, to form the single Volta River. The present Volta River flows from the outlets of the dam's powerhouse and spillways to the Atlantic Ocean in southmost Ghana.

This huge reservoir was formed beginning in 1965, when the large Akosombo Dam was completed. Because of the formation of Lake Volta, about 78,000 people were relocated to new towns and villages, along with 200,000 animals belonging to them. About 120 buildings were destroyed, not including small residences.

The Akosombo Dam provides electricity for much of the country, and possibly for export, perhaps to Togo, Benin, and nearby countries, to earn foreign exchange value. Lake Volta is also important for transportation providing a waterway for both ferries and cargo watercraft. Natually, since the huge lake lies in a tropical area, the water remains warm year-round, and given good management, it is the location of a vast population of fish and large fisheries.

The Digya National Park of Ghana lies on part of the lake's west shore.

[edit] External links

• Lake Volta on ghanaweb.com
• [http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/afr/afr-16.html

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