When people think of massive man-made projects, artificial lakes aren’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. Skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels tend to dominate discussions about amazing engineering. But while these structures often steal the spotlight, there is something fascinating about the world’s largest man-made lake based on surface area. 

Created by flooding entire villages and forests, this enormous reservoir completely reshaped the landscape, forcing thousands of people to relocate while generating power and transforming transportation in the region. Lake Volta, located in Ghana, spans a staggering 8,502 square kilometres – about 3.6% of the country’s total land area.

Stretching approximately 250 miles (400km) from north to south, it was formed in the 1960s when the Akosombo Dam was built to harness the power of the Volta River. 

The dam generates 912 megawatts of electricity, supplying most of Ghana’s power and even exporting energy to neighbouring countries such as Togo and Benin.

But the creation of the lake came at a significant cost. Entire forests were submerged, and 78,000 people were forced to relocate when 15,000 homes and 740 villages were flooded. 

The project aimed to modernise the region and boost fishing, but it also disrupted traditional farming and livelihoods. 

Despite these challenges, Lake Volta has become a crucial waterway, providing a cheap transport link between Ghana’s northern savanna and the coast.

One of the lake’s most striking features is its islands. Dodi, Dwarf, and Kporve islands sit within its huge expanse, with Dodi Island attracting tourists for boat cruises. 

The lake’s western shore is also home to Digya National Park, a protected area with rich biodiversity.

In addition to tourism and transportation, Lake Volta has become the site of an unusual industry – harvesting submerged timber. 

Logging companies extract tropical hardwood from the trees that were swallowed when the lake was created, producing a supply of environmentally sustainable wood without cutting down existing forests.

The Kremlin is jubilant after US President Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin over a ceasefire in Ukraine. A Russian source with knowledge of the call said it went “very well,” CNN reports.

Vladimir Putin‘s envoy Kirill Dmitriev also issued an update on the discussion, hailing it as “historic”. Writing on X, he said: “Under the leadership of President Putin and President Trump, the world has become a much safer place today!”

The conversation between the two leaders began at 2pm. It was earlier reported to be “going well”, according to White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Europe to be “at the negotiating table” for matters relating to the continent’s security during an official visit to Finland today.

Writing on X, he said: “Europe must be at the negotiating table, and everything related to Europe’s security should be decided together with Europe.”

Trump said before the call that he expected to discuss the division of assets and “power plants”, seemingly referencing the Zaporizhzhia plant, seized by Russia in 2022.

Writing on his platform Truth Social yesterday, he said: “Tomorrow morning I will be speaking to President Putin concerning the War in Ukraine. Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains.

“Thousands of young soldiers, and others, are being killed. Each week brings 2,500 soldier deaths from both sides, and it must end NOW. I look very much forward to the call with President Putin.”

He also told reporters on Monday: “It’s a bad situation in Russia, and it’s a bad situation in Ukraine. What’s happening in Ukraine is not good, but we’re going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire and peace. And I think we’ll be able to do it.”

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Ukraine launched a surprise attack in the Belgorod region of Russia, according to reports. The surprise move—with “heavy battles” underway—comes hours before Vladimir Putin is due to speak to Donald Trump on the phone about a war ceasefire. Reports were contradictory about whether Ukrainians had penetrated nearby villages Grafovka, Prilesye and Demidovka, with some reports insisting they had done so. The authorities were urgently evacuating residents from Grafovka village.

“At the moment, there has been no breakthrough of the border; border guards are fighting together with units of the Russian Ministry of Defence,” said war channel Two Majors. But it showed a video of a Ukrainian military vehicle ablaze on the border after a drone strike. Another Telegram report said: “Since the night they began to pull equipment and people to the junction of the Belgorod and Kursk regions. By the morning the enemy’s IMR [combat engineering vehicles] had cleared the passages in Prilesye, Grafovka and Demidovka. And then they went – tanks, quad bikes, infantry. Serious battles are underway.”

The news comes ahead of Trump’s call with Putin, which will occur between 1pm and 3pm UK time. Last night, Trump claimed “many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains” to be discussed. He added that he “very much looked forward to” speaking with Putin.

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