Lake Bosomtwe, Ashanti region of Ghana
Lake Bosumtwi (also spelled Bosomtwe), situated within an ancient meteorite impact crater.
The lake is a popular resort area with local people for swimming, fishing and boat trips. The lakeside village of Amakom has a small hospital with a doctor residing on premise, called Lake Bosumtwi Methodist Clinic, providing emergency services by boat and 4x4 ambulance. The lake is situated about 30 km south-east of Kumasi and is a popular recreational area. There are about 30 villages near this crater lake, with a combined population of about 70,000 people. |
Lake Bosomtwe was formed by a falling Meteorite about 1.3 million years ago.
This was discovered by Rock analysis in 1965 in the USA. 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.
The Lake is 90 meters deep and has a diameter of 8.6 Km. Two rivers and ground water keeps the water volume of the lake constant. The lake is surrounded by a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
This was discovered by Rock analysis in 1965 in the USA. 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.
The Lake is 90 meters deep and has a diameter of 8.6 Km. Two rivers and ground water keeps the water volume of the lake constant. The lake is surrounded by a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Lake Bosumtwi, situated within an ancient meteorite impact crater, and the only natural lake in Ashanti and Ghana. It is situated about 30 km south-east of Kumasi the capital of Ashanti and is a popular recreational area. There are about 30 villages near crater lake Lake Bosumtwi, with a combined population of about 70,000 Ashanti people.
The Ashanti consider Bosumtwi a sacred lake. According to traditional belief, the souls of the dead come here to bid farewell to the god Asase Ya. Because of this, it is considered permissible to fish in the lake only from wooden planks. Among the fish species in the lake is the endemic cichlid Hemichromis frempongi, and the near-endemic cichlids Tilapia busumana and T. discolor.
The Ashanti consider Bosumtwi a sacred lake. According to traditional belief, the souls of the dead come here to bid farewell to the god Asase Ya. Because of this, it is considered permissible to fish in the lake only from wooden planks. Among the fish species in the lake is the endemic cichlid Hemichromis frempongi, and the near-endemic cichlids Tilapia busumana and T. discolor.
Lake Bosumtwi
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The Lake Bosumtwi impact crater is 10.5 km in diameter, slightly larger than the present lake, and is estimated to be 1.07 million years old (Pleistocene period).
Depth of crater is approximately 380 m, but, if counted together with the depth of lake sediments - 750 m.
The crater has been partly eroded, and is situated in dense rainforest, making it difficult to study and confirm its origin by meteorite impact. Shock features such as shatter cones are largely overgrown by vegetation or covered by the lake.
However, drilling of the crater's central uplift beneath the lake floor has recently provided an abundance of shocked materials for scientific study. Tektites, believed to be from this impact, are found in the neighbouring country of Ivory Coast, and related microtektites have been found in deep sea sediments west of the African continent.
Depth of crater is approximately 380 m, but, if counted together with the depth of lake sediments - 750 m.
The crater has been partly eroded, and is situated in dense rainforest, making it difficult to study and confirm its origin by meteorite impact. Shock features such as shatter cones are largely overgrown by vegetation or covered by the lake.
However, drilling of the crater's central uplift beneath the lake floor has recently provided an abundance of shocked materials for scientific study. Tektites, believed to be from this impact, are found in the neighbouring country of Ivory Coast, and related microtektites have been found in deep sea sediments west of the African continent.
The legends say that in 1648 an Ashanti hunter named Akora Bompe from the city of Asaman was chasing an injured antelope through the rainforest. Suddenly, the animal disappeared in a small pond. It was as if this body of water wanted to save the animal's life. The hunter never got the antelope, though he settled close to the water and started catching fish. This place he named “Bosomtwe”, meaning “antelope god”. This story suggests that at that time the lake level was very low. The large dead trees standing offshore in the lake also evidence this, for they are over 300 years old.
The following centuries saw several wars about the lake as both the Ashanti and the Akim clashed, each claiming the area. The Ashanti prevailed.
Each village in the lake area has its own shrine or fetish grove. With the arrival of Christianity, some of people gave up former beliefs, though many continue to seek traditional help in bad times or against diseases.
The Abrodwum Stone is held to be the spiritual centre of the lake. Here, when there is such poor fishing it is considered a bad omen, the lake people sacrifice a cow. This act is celebrated in the presence of his majesty, the Ashanti king, the Asantehene himself. In the ceremony, the cow's innards are given to the stone and the rest is thrown into the lake. The crowd rushes into the water with cutlasses and axes to take their share of the meat. This is an event very much worth seeing. However, as such an omen depends on various factors, it is hardly predictable.
There is a traditional taboo against touching the water with iron and modern boats are not considered appropriate. The padua, a wooden plank requiring considerable skill to maneuver, is the legitimate method.
There are current environmental concerns, including overfishing and inadequate farming methods. The growing population increased demand for fish. Excessive fishing led to steadily decreasing catches, forcing increased reliance on agriculture. As more and more of the hills are converted into farmland, exposing the surface to the heavy rainfalls, soil erosion becomes an ever greater problem. In addition there is the changing lake level. Many villages have been submerged several times forcing the people to move up the slopes or outside the basin. That is the origin of such double names as Pipie No.1 and Pipie No.2
The lake is a popular resort area with local people for swimming, fishing and boat trips.
The lakeside village of Amakom has a small hospital with a doctor residing on premise, called Lake Bosumtwi Methodist Clinic, providing emergency services by boat and 4x4 ambulance. Main Text by (c) Wikipedia
The following centuries saw several wars about the lake as both the Ashanti and the Akim clashed, each claiming the area. The Ashanti prevailed.
Each village in the lake area has its own shrine or fetish grove. With the arrival of Christianity, some of people gave up former beliefs, though many continue to seek traditional help in bad times or against diseases.
The Abrodwum Stone is held to be the spiritual centre of the lake. Here, when there is such poor fishing it is considered a bad omen, the lake people sacrifice a cow. This act is celebrated in the presence of his majesty, the Ashanti king, the Asantehene himself. In the ceremony, the cow's innards are given to the stone and the rest is thrown into the lake. The crowd rushes into the water with cutlasses and axes to take their share of the meat. This is an event very much worth seeing. However, as such an omen depends on various factors, it is hardly predictable.
There is a traditional taboo against touching the water with iron and modern boats are not considered appropriate. The padua, a wooden plank requiring considerable skill to maneuver, is the legitimate method.
There are current environmental concerns, including overfishing and inadequate farming methods. The growing population increased demand for fish. Excessive fishing led to steadily decreasing catches, forcing increased reliance on agriculture. As more and more of the hills are converted into farmland, exposing the surface to the heavy rainfalls, soil erosion becomes an ever greater problem. In addition there is the changing lake level. Many villages have been submerged several times forcing the people to move up the slopes or outside the basin. That is the origin of such double names as Pipie No.1 and Pipie No.2
The lake is a popular resort area with local people for swimming, fishing and boat trips.
The lakeside village of Amakom has a small hospital with a doctor residing on premise, called Lake Bosumtwi Methodist Clinic, providing emergency services by boat and 4x4 ambulance. Main Text by (c) Wikipedia
Bosomtwe Assembly to aggressively promote tourism 4/11/2015
Source: GNA - The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bosomtwe, Madam Veronica Antwi-Agyei, has expressed the determination of the Assembly to take steps to boost the tourist attraction of the Bosomtwe Lake.
She said the goal was to generate more revenue to bring development to the people in the area.
The lake, an ancient meteorite impact crater, measures about 10.5 kilometres in diameter, and happens to be the only natural lake in Ghana.
Madam Antwi-Agyei said they were working closely with the Tourism Ministry to substantially increase the number of both domestic and foreign visitors, adding that, more boats would be provided to enable tourists cruise on it.
Source: GNA - The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bosomtwe, Madam Veronica Antwi-Agyei, has expressed the determination of the Assembly to take steps to boost the tourist attraction of the Bosomtwe Lake.
She said the goal was to generate more revenue to bring development to the people in the area.
The lake, an ancient meteorite impact crater, measures about 10.5 kilometres in diameter, and happens to be the only natural lake in Ghana.
Madam Antwi-Agyei said they were working closely with the Tourism Ministry to substantially increase the number of both domestic and foreign visitors, adding that, more boats would be provided to enable tourists cruise on it.
She was speaking at a durbar held by the people of Beposo to plan the development of the community.
The DCE gave an upbeat assessment of the performance of the Assembly, and said despite its limited revenue sources, it had completed numerous projects that were helping to improve the lives of the people. She cited the provision of education, health, water and sanitation facilities, and called for continued support, understanding and co-operation of the populace. Madam Antwi-Agyei gave the assurance that the Beposo-Peminase road, now in bad shape, would be rehabilitated to help people in communities served by the road to travel in some comfort and safety. She applauded the chiefs and people of Beposo for constructing a mechanized water system to give themselves uninterrupted and safe drinking water. |
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