Lake Bosumtwi, Impact crater lake in Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Lake Bosumtwi is an impact crater lake in Ghana's Ashanti Region, formed within a circular depression surrounded by forested hills. The water body reaches significant depths and spans a large area shaped by its geological origin.
The lake formed from an asteroid impact about a million years ago, which created the circular basin visible today. Over millennia, rainfall and natural processes gradually filled this depression to create the water body.
The lake holds spiritual significance for the Ashanti people, who view it as a place where departed souls say farewell to the goddess Asase Ya. This belief shapes how locals relate to the water and how they conduct ceremonies throughout the year.
The lake is accessible from a nearby village where visitors can arrange boat rides and explore the water. Visiting during the dry season offers better conditions for water travel and clearer views of the surrounding landscape.
The water is home to three species of cichlid fish, including one that exists naturally nowhere else in the world. These unusual fish are evidence of how the isolated environment shaped life over millions of years.
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