Lake Volta

Lake Volta was formed in 1965 when the construction of the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam resulted in the planned flooding of the Volta River Basin, creating the largest reservoir in the World. The flooding of the region resulted in the relocation of 78,000 people, and 200,000 animals.

From it's northernmost point, the town of Yapei, located in the Northern Region, to it's southernmost point, the Akosombo Dam, Lake Volta's maximum length is 520km. The Lake commences at the point where the White Volta & Black Volta Rivers converge, with the Akosombo Dam forming Lake Volta by holding back the flow of the Volta River, with a catchment area of 385,180 km².

The Volta River flows from the Akosomb Dam to the coastal town of Ada, and into the Gulf of Guinea. An important crossing point of the Volta River is the Kwame Nkrumah Bridge located at Ameaika, an arched suspension-bridge that was a project commissioned & completed in 1957 under the government of Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah.

Lake Volta is now a major fishing ground, and is used for transportation by ferries & cargo vessels.