January 8 | Ghana, Africa: Volta River
I spent today on the Volta River. The Volta River is important to the people of Ghana because it provides 10% of Ghana’s annual fish catch. My very first ride in a pirogua was great fun! These traditional wooden boats are used by travelers and fishermen to navigate the Volta River. These boats, called piragua by the Spanish, started as a dugout made from one log. Canoes may have developed from the design. Although pirogues are used as a means of transportation in Ghana, they are also used for fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and as a shallow draft boat in the Louisiana swamplands. They take a lot of effort to move, so I’m really tired after a day on this enormous river.