The reservoir was created by constructing Afobaka Dam across the Suriname River between 1961 and 1964. The dam spanning the river is tall, and is built near the small town of Afobaka. Contrary to the reservoir's long official name, it was quickly rechristened "Brokopondomeer" by Dutch-speaking locals, after the town of Brokopondo further downstream from where the dam was constructed. The length of the dam, including secondary dams along the margins of the reservoir, is . The watershed which feeds the reservoir is in area.