Find out which man-made lakes are found in Africa in this article-Reservoirs, usually referred to as man-made lakes, are used as water supplies throughout the world.
Most made-up lakes are produced by diverting a section of a river with a dam and storing the water in a reservoir.
With a surface area of over 8,500 square kilometers, Lake Volta in Ghana is one of the largest artificial lakes in the continent of Africa. It was built in the 1960s by the construction of the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River.
Down below are more of the top five man-made lakes in Africa
Lake Volta, Ghana, 8.502 Square Kilometres
In terms of surface area, Lake Volta is the largest artificial lake in both Africa and the world. At 8,502 km2 or 3.6% of Ghana’s total land area, it is the largest reservoir by surface area and the fourth largest in the world by volume (148 km3). The southernmost region of Ghana is where it is situated.
Lake Kariba, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, 5,400 Square Kilometres
With 180 km3 of freshwater, Lake Kariba is the largest artificial lake in both Africa and the world.
It is situated between Zambia and Zimbabwe in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi River.
Since it significantly increases the amount of electricity available to the population in both African nations, the hydroelectric power plant on the Kariba dam is crucial.
With a catchment area of 663,000 square kilometers and a surface area of 5,400 square kilometers, this dam has a maximum storage capacity of 180 cubic kilometers of water. The dam produced Lake Kariba, which is 97 meters beneath the surface of the lake.
Lake Nasser, Egypt and Sudan,5,250 Square Kilometres
The Sudanese refer to a portion of Lake Nasser as Lake Nubia in honor of the Nubian homeland that was submerged under the water during the construction of Lake Nasser.
Lake Nasser is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, and its waters share borders with Egypt and Sudan. The lake has a length of 479 kilometers, a maximum width of 16 kilometers, a maximum depth of 590 feet, and an average depth of 83 feet.
The lake bears the name of Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian President who launched the construction of the Aswan High Dam and played a significant role in the 1952 Egyptian Revolution.
It is also one of the last remaining sites for the animal of the rapidly declining Nile crocodile population.
Cahora Bassa, Mozambique, 2,739 Square Kilometres
The Cahora Bassa is the fourth-largest artificial lake in Africa and is situated in the Tete region of Mozambique. During the Portuguese colonial period, it was formerly referred to as Cabora Bassa. The name was derived from the Nyungwe phrase “finish the job,” Kahoura-Bassa.
The largest hydroelectric program in Southern Africa has culminated with the reservoir.
Kabaka’s Lake, Uganda, 1.8 square kilometers
The Kabakas Lake is situated near Ndeba, between Nabunya Road and Ring Road, in the Rubaga division, just a few kilometers from the city core.
It is one of the Man-made lakes in Uganda, which is conceivably the biggest man-made lake still in existence in Africa.
Kabaka Mwanga II ordered its construction in 1880 with the primary intention of using it as an escape route during the British armed battles.
Conclusion
Africa is home to some of the largest artificial lakes in the world, which are not only remarkable architectural achievements but also serve crucial roles in supplying freshwater, producing power, and bolstering communities.
