Black Volta
River in Burkina Faso and Ghana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Black Volta or Mouhoun (French: Volta noire)[1] is a river that flows through Burkina Faso for approximately 1,352 km (840 mi) to the White Volta in Dagbon, Ghana, the upper end of Lake Volta.[2] It is one of the three main parts of the Volta, with the White Volta and the Red Volta.[3]
| Black Volta Volta noire | |
|---|---|
 Black Volta (Mouhoun) near Dédougou, Burkina Faso | |
 Black Volta shown in black | |
| Location | |
| Countries | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Volta River |
• location | Lake Volta |
• coordinates | 8°41′00″N 1°33′00″W |
| Length | 1,352 km (840 mi) |
Basin size | 147,000 km2 (57,000 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Mouth |
| (Is home to many forms of wildlife that are unique to this part of the world) | |
The source of the Black Volta is in the Cascades Region of Burkina Faso, close to Mount Tenakourou, the highest point of the country. Further downstream it forms part of the border between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and later between Ivory Coast and Ghana. Within Ghana, it marks the border between the Savannah and Bono regions.[4][2] The Bui Dam, a hydroelectric power plant, is built on the river, just south of the Bui National Park, which the river bisects.[2][5]
Length, Basin, and Hydrology
The Black Volta is approximately 1,352 km long, making it one of the major rivers of the Volta basin system.[6]
Its drainage basin covers about 147,000 km2 depending on estimation methods, and it forms a crucial part of the wider Volta Basin, one of the largest river basins in West Africa.[7]
The river flow can become seasonal in its upper reaches, with reduced discharge during the dry season due to low rainfall variability in the savanna climate zone.[8]
Course and Geographical Role
The river flows generally southward, then forms international boundaries between Ghana and Burkina Faso, and between Ghana and Ivory Coast.[9]
In Ghana, it continues toward the interior and eventually contributes to Lake Volta, one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world, created by the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River system.[9]
The Black Volta is part of a larger system that also includes the White Volta and Red Volta, which merge downstream to form the main Volta River.
Economic and Environmental Importance
The Black Volta Basin supports agriculture, fishing, domestic water supply, and hydropower production across several West African countries.[7]
Agriculture in the basin includes rain-fed crops such as maize, millet, sorghum, rice, yam, and cassava, which are widely cultivated by local populations.[7]
The river also plays a role in ecosystem sustainability, supporting aquatic biodiversity and providing water for livestock and irrigation systems in rural communities.[7]
Hydropower and Infrastructure
One of the most important infrastructures on the Black Volta is the Bui Dam in Ghana, a hydroelectric project that contributes to national energy production.[6]
The dam also affects river flow regulation, irrigation systems, and local ecological conditions in its surrounding basin area.
Climate and Seasonal Flow Characteristics
The Black Volta Basin is located in a semi-arid to subhumid tropical climate zone, where rainfall is highly seasonal and concentrated in a few months of the year.[8]
Most rainfall occurs between July and September, while dry conditions dominate the rest of the year, affecting river discharge levels.[8]
This seasonal variability contributes to temporary drying or reduced flow in upstream sections of the river during dry periods.[8]
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