Akosombo Dam and Lake Volta

Akosombo Dam creates Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake by area.

Akosombo Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Volta River in Ghana.

The dam is 660 metres long, spanning the Akosombo gorge.

Akosombo Dam stands 114 metres tall, towering over the river.

Two spillways hold twelve steel floodgates that release excess water.

Each floodgate measures 11.5 metres wide and 13.7 metres tall.

Lake Volta stretches 400 kilometres in length across Ghana.

Lake Volta's water level can reach a maximum of 84.73 metres.

Six turbines in the dam’s power plant each generate 170 megawatts.

Electrical output was upgraded to 1,020 megawatts in 2006.

Floodgates opened in 2010 due to the highest recorded water level.

The dam’s reservoir forced relocation of about 80,000 people.

Lake Volta covers 3.6 percent of Ghana’s land area.

The dam powers Ghana, Togo, and Benin with hydroelectricity.

Invasive weeds in Lake Volta hinder navigation and spread diseases.