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Lake Bosomtwe Sacred Lake & Range Forest
Bosomtwe crater, Ashanti Region (~30 km SE of Kumasi)
Ghana
Active (UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve)
Single grove
- Location
- Bosomtwe crater, Ashanti Region (~30 km SE of Kumasi)
- Coordinates
- ~6.50°N 1.41°W
- Elevation
- Crater rim ~750 m
- Size
- Lake ~49 km²; Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve adjoining
- Age / Founded
- Ancient (meteorite-impact crater lake; Ashanti sacred tradition)
- Status
- Active (UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve)
- Deity & Religion
- Lake deity 'Twi'; goddess Asase Ya; souls of the dead bid farewell here; Ashanti (Akan) religion
- Community & Guardians
- Ashanti (Akan) lakeside communities
- Vernacular name
- Sacred lake (Bosomtwe) + forest reserve
- Record type
- Single grove
Cultural practices & uses
Sacred lake; taboo on iron/metal boats (use wooden 'padua' planks); ritual offerings
Plant species
Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve: 35 tree species (some timber)
Biome & fauna
Moist semi-deciduous forest + crater-lake wetland + hills
Threats & protection
UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve; combined forest/wetland/mountain ecosystems
Source
Lake Bosumtwi (Wikipedia); UNESCO MAB Lake Bosomtwe