Volta River

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The Adome bridge crosses the Volta river south of the Akosombo Dam
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The Adome bridge crosses the Volta river south of the Akosombo Dam
Map of the Volta River
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Map of the Volta River

The Volta is a river in central and 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 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, 520 km (325 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

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