A large man-made reservoir in eastern Burkina Faso with Ramsar-listed wetlands and hydroelectric significance.
Lac de la Kompienga
Lac de la Kompienga is a large artificial lake in southeastern Burkina Faso, formed in 1988 when the Kompienga Dam was impounded on the Kompienga River, a tributary within the Volta Basin. The reservoir extends mainly through the Kompienga Province in the Est Region, not far from the border areas with Togo and Benin, and it sits along a road axis connecting Fada N'Gourma to Pama.
The lake was developed from the start as a multipurpose resource, combining a 14 MW hydroelectric power station that came online in 1989 with downstream irrigation, fisheries, and broader rural uses such as livestock watering and seasonal transhumance. It is widely recognized as the first large hydroelectric dam built within Burkina Faso, giving it a foundational role in the country's modern water infrastructure.
Its shoreline wetlands, aquatic habitats, and surrounding dry savanna environment also carry real ecological value. The site was designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2009, recognizing the reservoir's importance for waterbirds, fisheries, and regional hydrology. Today, Lac de la Kompienga combines energy production, ecological significance, and a growing role in local livelihoods centered on fishing and lake-side settlement.
