https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250825/protecting-a-million-year-old-crater-ghanas-lake-bosumtwi-and-its-global-value-1077306566.html
Protecting a Million-Year-Old Crater: Ghana’s Lake Bosumtwi and Its Global Value
Protecting a Million-Year-Old Crater: Ghana’s Lake Bosumtwi and Its Global Value
Sputnik Africa
Across the globe, Earth holds silent records of its cosmic past — from massive craters to hidden scars carved by ancient meteor impacts. These natural wonders... 25.08.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-08-25T11:00+0200
2025-08-25T11:00+0200
2025-08-25T11:00+0200
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Protecting a Million-Year-Old Crater: Ghana’s Lake Bosumtwi and Its Global Value
Sputnik Africa
Across the globe, Earth holds silent records of its cosmic past — from massive craters to hidden scars carved by ancient meteor impacts. These natural wonders are more than breathtaking landscapes; they are scientific archives, offering clues about planetary evolution, climate history, and even humanity’s place in the universe.
In Africa, meteor impact sites stand as rare windows into planetary history. They reveal how asteroids reshaped the Earth, left behind unique ecosystems, and stored records of past climates. Among them, Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana is extraordinary — a perfectly preserved “wet crater” more than a million years old, holding vital clues for science and heritage. Yet this treasure faces threats from mining, deforestation, and unplanned development that could erase its story before it is fully told.
In Africa, meteor impact sites stand as rare windows into planetary history. They reveal how asteroids reshaped the Earth, left behind unique ecosystems, and stored records of past climates. Among them, Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana is extraordinary — a perfectly preserved “wet crater” more than a million years old, holding vital clues for science and heritage. Yet this treasure faces threats from mining, deforestation, and unplanned development that could erase its story before it is fully told.To fully understand why this crater matters, Global South Pole spoke with Dr. Marian Selorm Sapah, a Senior Lecturer and research scientist at the Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, and the country’s only formally trained Cosmochemist. She explained that Bosumtwi is far more than a scenic landmark, it is a natural archive of Earth’s past and a vital resource for advancing planetary science in Africa.However, the Cosmochemist noted that Lake Bosumtwi faces mounting threats from mining, deforestation, and uncontrolled human activity. She warned that these pressures could permanently damage the lake’s ecosystem and erase its scientific value. Protecting the crater, she stressed, is not just a national responsibility but a global imperative, safeguarding unique geological data that cannot be recreated once lost.To find out more on lake Bosumtwi, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, Overcast, and Mave Stream.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole.
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Protecting a Million-Year-Old Crater: Ghana’s Lake Bosumtwi and Its Global Value
Aliyu Bello
Correspondent, Podcast Host
Across the globe, Earth holds silent records of its cosmic past — from massive craters to hidden scars carved by ancient meteor impacts. These natural wonders are more than breathtaking landscapes; they are scientific archives, offering clues about planetary evolution, climate history, and even humanity’s place in the universe.
In Africa, meteor impact sites stand as rare windows into planetary history. They reveal how asteroids reshaped the Earth, left behind unique ecosystems, and stored records of past climates. Among them, Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana is extraordinary — a perfectly preserved “wet crater” more than a million years old, holding vital clues for science and heritage. Yet this treasure faces threats from mining, deforestation, and unplanned development that could erase its story before it is fully told.
To fully understand why this crater matters, Global South Pole spoke with Dr. Marian Selorm Sapah, a Senior Lecturer and research scientist at the Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, and the country’s only formally trained Cosmochemist. She explained that Bosumtwi is far more than a scenic landmark, it is a natural archive of Earth’s past and a vital resource for advancing planetary science in Africa.
“Currently, there are only about 190 known and established impact craters on Earth. Bosumtwi is unique because it is a wet impact crater […] meaning it has a lake. There are only about six of these globally. It is young and well-preserved, which means it still has most of its original state […] it hasn't changed much. It is a more interesting impact crater to study because it retains its original form. [These] are precious geological objects with real scientific value. If we have analogs here on Earth, they help us better understand similar processing that has happened on other planets. We cannot underestimate its importance for building capacity in planetary and space science in Africa,” Dr. Sapah explained.
However, the Cosmochemist noted that Lake Bosumtwi faces mounting threats from mining, deforestation, and uncontrolled human activity. She warned that these pressures could permanently damage the lake’s ecosystem and erase its scientific value. Protecting the crater, she stressed, is not just a national responsibility but a global imperative, safeguarding unique geological data that cannot be recreated once lost.
To find out more on lake Bosumtwi, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole. 
