Volta River

Geobox River
name = Volta River
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image_size = 300
image_caption = The Adome bridge crosses the Volta river south of the Akosombo Dam.
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country = Ghana
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watershed = 407093
watershed_note = [http://www.waterandnature.org/eatlas/html/af26.html Volta] , Watersheds of the World. Water Resources eAtlas. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.]
discharge_location = Mouth
discharge = 1210
discharge_max =
discharge_min =
discharge_note = [http://www.library.eb.com/eb/article-9075703 Volta River] , Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.]
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mouth_name = Gulf of Guinea
mouth_location = Atlantic Ocean
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map_size = 300
map_caption = Map of the Volta River and its main three tributaries, the White Volta, Red Volta, and Black Volta rivers. The Volta is a river in western Africa that drains into the Gulf of Guinea. It is divided into the Black Volta, the White Volta and the Red Volta. The river gave its name to French Upper Volta and then the Republic of Upper Volta before that country was renamed Burkina Faso in 1984.

Lake Volta in Ghana is the largest man-made lake in the world, extending from the Akosombo Dam in southeastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 1500 km (938 miles) to the north. The lake generates electricity, provides inland transport, and is a potentially valuable resource for irrigation and fish farming.

The Portuguese purchased much of their gold from inhabitants of this region during the Renaissance.

References

The river achieved its name because early Portuguese gold traders marked the river as their furthest point of exploration before turning around "Volta".

External links

* [http://www.waterandnature.org/eatlas/html/af26.html Map of the Volta River basin at Water Resources eAtlas]
* [http://www.vra.com/ Volta River Authority, an agency of the government of Ghana]