Mouhoun River, Perennial river system in West Africa
The Mouhoun, also known as the Black Volta, is a river in West Africa that rises in Burkina Faso, flows through Ghana, and forms a natural border between the two countries along part of its course. It joins the White Volta before emptying into Lake Volta.
Portuguese navigators gave the name Volta to this river system in the 15th century, referring to its winding course across the region. The distinction between Black Volta and White Volta came later, as European mapmakers began to map each branch separately.
Along the riverbanks, local communities fish and farm in ways that follow the seasonal rise and fall of the water. Visitors can often see fishermen working with traditional nets and small boats, especially during and just after the rainy season.
The river runs highest between May and October, which makes boat trips and fishing outings easier during those months. In the dry season, the water level drops noticeably and some stretches of the bank become harder to reach.
When the river floods during the rainy season, it creates temporary wetlands that serve as habitat for hippos, sometimes called Mare aux Hippos by local people. These zones almost completely disappear in the dry season, turning back into dry plains until the next rains arrive.
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