Which man-made lake has the largest surface area?

Lake Volta has the largest surface area of any man-made lake, or artificial reservoir, in the world.

Created by the Akosombo Dam in Ghana, Lake Volta covers about 8,502 square kilometers. The dam was built on the Volta River system and began operating in the 1960s, making the reservoir central to Ghana’s electricity supply and regional development.

The lake stretches roughly 520 kilometers through Ghana and receives water from the White Volta and Black Volta rivers. Its large, branching shape reflects the valleys and river channels flooded after the dam was built.

Surface area is the key distinction in this question. Lake Kariba is generally regarded as the largest reservoir by volume, while Lake Nasser is also enormous but has a smaller surface area. Lake Volta therefore wins by the measurement specified, not by every possible definition of “largest.”