Lake Kossou

Lake Kossou is a large reservoir in central Ivory Coast created by damming the Bandama River in the 1970s. It is one of the country’s principal inland lakes and was formed as part of a hydroelectric and irrigation project.

The reservoir flooded valleys and created a new shoreline with islands and shallow bays that support fishing and local transport. The lake is used for inland fisheries and by communities living along its shores.

Construction of the dam and formation of the reservoir transformed land use in the area, displacing some communities at the time and creating new opportunities for irrigation and power generation. Management of water levels and fisheries remains an ongoing local priority.

Lake Kossou lies in central Ivory Coast within the Sassandra-Marahoué administrative area, set in an agricultural and riverine landscape rather than coastal terrain.

• Reservoir origin: Formed in the 1970s by impoundment of the Bandama River, creating one of Ivory Coast’s largest inland reservoirs used for hydroelectricity and irrigation.

What to See#

• Kossou Dam: The dam structure and hydropower installation that created the reservoir in the 1970s and controls water levels on the Bandama River.