However, piles of heavy rainfall over the years filled the crater with water causing the lake level to rise. There are various settlements around, mainly fishing and farming villages but also some places to stay. It occupies a meteorite impact crater that was formed about one million years ago. There are various settlements around, mainly fishing and farming villages but also some places to stay. With the shoreline changes of the lake, fishermen are the most affected group in the area and this has resulted in the fishermen been laid off. It must be admitted that it is not clear whether the crater in which Lake Bosomtwi lies is volcanic in origin, was formed by a meteorite or a small pond. Lake Bosumtwe also sometimes spelled Bosomtwi, is a lake formed by an ancient meteorite strike in the Ashanti Region. The name means Antelope God because it is said to be discovered by a hunter chasing an antelope that disappeared into the lake like it was trying to save the animal. It is a spectacular sight to see the crowd rush into the water with cutlasses and axes to take their share of the meat. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It is believed to be the result of meteoritic action about 1 million years ago, when a crater … It is one of three of such internationally recognized sites in the country – Bia in the Western, and Songhor in Greater Accra Region. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. There is supposed to be a 2 GHC fee for foreigners but no one is at the entrance booth. Lake Bosumtwi, lake, south-central Ghana, 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Kumasi. Is a lake formed by an ancient meteorite strike in TheAshanti Empire . With the arrival of Christianity, some of the people lost their belief in those traditions, but nonetheless, many still worship these gods for help in bad times or against diseases. It is believed to be the result of meteoritic action about 1 million years ago, when a crater formed by the impact of an asteroid gradually filled with rainwater. Till date they move on the lake using the “padua”, a wooden plank that needs a lot of skill to be handled in the right way. Longitude: 1°19’22”W – 1°29’30”W Bosomtwe is a circular lake, caused by a meteor impact a million years ago. Lake Bosomtwe was formed by a falling Meteorite about 1.3 million years ago. The various communities around Lake Bosomtwe are very welcoming. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Bosumtwi, UNESCO - Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development - Lake Bosomtwe. This was discovered by Rock analysis in 1965 in the USA. Omissions? Many theories have been proposed for its existence, the more theories there are the more enjoyable the lake is! It is possible to take boat rides on the lake, swim, and hike around. Lake Bosomtwe was formed by a falling Meteorite about 1.3 million years ago. Some people believe that the lake was created by a volcanic activity while others say it was created by a falling meteorite that hit the area, causing a crater to be formed. Development of tourist facilities on the lakeshore in 1976 led to the resettlement of the residents of Abonu. Midpoint: 6°30’16”N – 1°24’31”W. During her time in Ghana, Sarah Begum experienced the lives of a community that surrounds one of the world’s few lakes situated in an ancient meteor impact crater Lake Bosomtwi also sometimes spelled Bosomtwe, is a lake formed by an ancient meteorite strike in the Ashanti Region. Location Lake Bosomtwe is an important national cultural and natural site of particular relevance for international conservation. Oral tradition taught as that the lake Bosomtwe was formed in 1648 when a hunter pursuing and antelope shot and injured the antelope , the antelope however continued to its run until it disappeared in a small pond ahead . Lake Bosomtwe is situated about 32 km southeast of Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. The extreme kinetic energy of the meteorite caused an explosion which most certainly was felt on whole Earth. The lake was probably formed by … Situated in the Ashanti region of Ghana, Lake Bosomtwe is one of six UNESCO designated biosphere reserve sites. This was discovered by Rock analysis in 1965 in the USA. The lake has no surface outlet and was formed in a meteorite impact crater with an area of 19 square miles (49 square km) and a depth of 230–240 feet (70–73 metres), The lake is surrounded by lush mountains and fed by small streams that tumble down the crater’s steep sides (500–1,400 feet [150–425 metres] above water level). Lake Bosomtwe was formed by a falling Meteorite about 1.3 million years ago. Attraction Category: See Ghana, Cultural Sites, Eco Tourism, Historical Sites, and Nature. Following the impact, the resulting crater filled with water which later formed lake Bosomtwe. Along the coast are numerous lagoons, most of them formed at the mouths of small streams.…. It is presumed that in those times wester… The name means Antelope God because it is said to be discovered by a hunter chasing an antelope that disappeared into the lake like it was trying to save the animal. The area is rich in biodiversity including several species endemic to the lake. Usually, whenever there is poor yield, it is considered a bad omen, thus sacrifices would have to be made. The site is also home to a great diversity of wildlife and a human population of over 50,000 inhabitants whose main economic activities are farming, fishing and tourism, as the lake is a major national tourist destination. This deed is undertaken in the presence of the Asantehene. Each village in the lake area has its own shrine or fetish grove. This was brought about by the reduction in fish catch and fish composition from Lake Bosomtwe. It is a rain forest and our lodgings were at Lake Bosomtwe, the place where the Ashantis are said to have risen out of the ground. Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana’s sole natural lake, was formed in a meteorite impact crater 17 miles (27 kilometers) southeast of Kumasi, and dozens of small villages now line the shores, all surrounded by lush greenery. Lake Bosomtwe was formed when a meteor impacted in West Africa Sarah Begum. Is a lake formed by an ancient meteorite strike in TheAshanti Empire . Lake Bosomtwe has a very small catchment area to lake area ratio (1.1) and the sediment mercury profile is expected to reflect past and present atmospheric mercury deposition to the lake. Updates? Because the lake Bosomtwe (Bosumtwi) is actually filling a meteorite crater formed 1 million years ago, it is almost perfectly circular (diameter 8 km) and surrounded by a small mountain barrier. Fossils of many animals including Lions, Elephants, Tigers, Black Cobras, Pythons, Alligators, and many more were found along the lake’s banks indicating that these animals once inhabited the area around the lake. Lake Bosomtwe situated near Kumasi, formed by meteoritic crater is also a surface water resource. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. Lake Bosomtwe was formed by a falling meteriite about 1.6 million years ago. Currently, there are about 23,000 people living in the 27 communities around Lake Bosomtwe. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Considering the above belief, Lake Bosomtwe is held sacred by Ashanti traditionalists, though the finer details of its exalted status are rather elusive. It is situated within an ancient impact crater that is about 10.5 kilometers in diameter. *Care must be taken as Padua could easily capsize. However, there have been some unregulated human activities and You will notice that the villages often times have a number after the name which indicates how many versions of the village there have been. Fossils of many animals including Lions, Elephants, Tigers, Black Cobras, Pythons, Alligators, and many more were found along the lake’s banks indicating that these animals once inhabited the area around the lake. The biosphere reserve sustains 35 tree species, including some used for timber. You will see tree trunks coming out of the water because of this also. There is a tarred road that gives access to the Lake Bsomtwe from the direction of Kumasi, it rises in elevation over the rim around the lake and down into the lake ending at the first village Abono. This was itself carved from the former Ejisu/Juaben/Bosomtwe District. The next day, we headed 35km outside of Kumasi to spend the night at Lake Bosomtwe! Before the asteroid impact, the area was a rainforest filled with animals. Lake Bosomtwe is the only natural lake in Ghana. The Bosomtwe Land Restoration Project. This crater was created by approximately 500 m wide chondrite (stone) meteorite, which entered the atmosphere with a speed of some 20 km per second. The only true inland lake in the country, it has no surface outlet and was formed in a meteorite impact crater. Oral tradition has it that the Lake Bosomtwe was formed in 1648 when a hunter pursuing and antelope shot and injured the antelope “Otwe” – in the Twi dialect. Others believe that it is visited by the souls of the departed on their passage to eternity. There is an information centre, where you can find out about the lake and conservation efforts, and also arrange for a boat trip on the lake. Fossils of many animals including Lions, Elephants, Tigers, Black Cobras, Pythons, Alligators and many more were also found along the rivers banks indicating that these animals once inhabited the area around the lake. If there is one waterbody which is as mystical as it is beautiful then Lake Bosomtwe is your answer. Tourism. 2.2. If you are lucky someone will open a coconut or two for you for a few cedis. It is about 30 kilometers south-east of Kumasi the capital of Ashanti and is a popular recreational area. Latitude: 6°24’35”N – 6°35’33”N The sides rise steeply, covered with trees and bush. Lake Bosumtwe Lake Bosumtwe in Ghana’s Ashanti Region is one of the world’s six major meteoric lakes and believed to be around 1.3 million years old. The sides rise steeply, covered with trees and bush. Lake Bosumtwe also sometimes spelled Bosomtwi, is a lake formed by an ancient meteorite strike in the Ashanti Region. He then named the place “Bosomtwe” which in English translates “antelope god.” He believed that the water was a god and saved the life of the antelope. There is only one paved road going to the lake. Lake Bosomtwe is an important national cultural and natural site of particular relevance for international conservation. The lake is becoming a popular tourist attraction in Ghana and has the potential to be developed as an ecotourism site in the future. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... …Ghana’s only true natural lake—Bosumtwi—lying in a meteorite impact crater and without any outlet to the sea. The lake has formed before 1.07 million years in the crater of a meteor strike. 13 Aug 2018 . The Bosumtwi (Bosomtwe) is an undrained lake in the Southeast of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The area is widely used for research, especially on climate change, as well as environmental education for schools and universities. Lake Bosomtwe is situated about 32 km south east of Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, Ghana and occupies a meteorite impact crater that was formed. With an area of 19 square miles (49 square km) and a depth of 230–240 feet (70–73 metres), the lake is fed by small streams that tumble down the crater’s steep sides (500–1,400 feet [150–425 metres] above water level). Abstract–Lake Bosumtwi is a natural inland freshwater lake that originated from a meteorite impact. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. Infobox lake lake_name = Lake Bosumtwi image_lake = Bosumtwi Worldwind SW.jpg caption_lake = image_bathymetry = caption_bathymetry = location = Ghana coords = The Bosomtwe District is one of the twenty-seven (27) districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.Its capital is Kuntanase.The district was formed after the Atwima Kwanwoma District was taken out of the former Botsomtwe/Atwima/Kwanwoma District. The southernmost section of the site overlaps the northern section of the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve creating a combination of forest, wetland and mountain ecosystems. Lake Bosomtwe and effects of human activities Lake Bosomtwe is a meteoritic impact lake believed to have been created in the Pleistocene period. Lake Bosomtwe is the only true inland lake in the country located in the Ashanti region. The only true inland lake in the country, it has no surface outlet and was formed in a meteorite impact crater. Each village has its own shrine with many visiting to look for spiritual help. It is believed that Lake Bosomtwe water level continues to rise, and because of this the villages have had to keep moving up the hillside. In spite of academic theories surrounding its formation, getting on site will certainly let you wonder how the place was formed. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. There are also some great hikes up into the hills, and the sacred areas around villages. The antelope however continued its run until it disappeared in a small pond ahead. Oral tradition taught as that the lake Bosomtwe was formed in 1648 when a hunter pursuing and antelope shot and injured the antelope , the antelope however continued to its run until it disappeared in a small pond ahead . The said hunter by name Akora Bompe in shock decided to stay beside the pond and never returned to his town of Asamang. All rivers, pose a great opportunities from the construction of Hydroelectric and Water Supply dams to the construction of Irrigation Systems. In former times, it was a taboo to touch the water with iron things, so the people never used conventional boats. In the ceremony, the cow’s innards are offered to the stone and the rest thrown into the water. It approached from the east and hit the 2 billion years old rocks (quartzite, phyllite, slate, and granite) with extraordinary force. Periods of heavy rainfall filled the crater with water, causing the lake level to rise above the lowest points of the rim. Since the 1970s, the lake has become a popular recreational spot, with calm water where you can safely swim. Since the 1970s, the lake has become a popular recreational spot, with calm water where you can safely swim. Corrections? Lake Bosomtwe (Latitude 6.504; Longit ude −1.4145) is a crater lake situated in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, West Africa, and is one of few meteoritic lakes in the world. With an area of 19 square miles (49 square km) and a depth of 230–240 feet (70–73 metres), the lake is fed by small streams that tumble down the crater’s steep sides (500–1,400 feet [150–425 metres] above water level). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Lake Bosumtwi, lake, south-central Ghana, 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Kumasi. The name Bosomtwe (also spelt “Bosomtwi”) is derived from two Akan names, “bosom” meaning god or deity and “ɔtwe” meaning antelope. This lake was made from a meteor that hit Earth over one million years ago and formed a creator surrounded by mountains that was then fed through a natural underground spring to form the lake. 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