Lake Volta is the largest man-made lake in the world by surface area, covering about 8,502 square kilometers (3,283 square miles). It extends approximately 520 km from the Akosombo Dam in the south to the town of Yapei in the north. Created in 1965 by damming the Volta River, Lake Volta serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation, fishing, transportation, and irrigation. The lake supports a large freshwater fishery and links northern Ghana to the coast through navigable waters.