BIA RIVER

river in western Africa, rising 25 miles (40 km) west of Sunyani in western Ghana. After entering Cte d'Ivoire, the Bia River flows in a southerly direction to the Aby Lagoon, an inlet of the Atlantic; its total length is 160 miles (260 km). On the river near Ayam are two hydroelectric plants (1959, 1965), 2.5 miles (4 km) apart, which supply power to Abidjan and southeastern Cte d'Ivoire. From Aboisso, the head of navigation (10 miles from the entrance to the lagoon), logs and agricultural produce are sent downstream to Assini for transshipment.