Seen from space, Lake Bosumtwi appears as a near-perfect blue circle surrounded by lush forest in southern Ghana. Revered by the local Ashanti people as the "Lake of Souls", it is far more than a scenic landmark. Around one million years ago, a colossal meteorite slammed into the Earth, carving out a crater nearly 10.5 kilometres wide and permanently transforming the landscape. The impact released enormous amounts of energy, fractured deep rocks and altered the region's geology in ways that continue to shape it today. Scientists believe these ancient processes helped concentrate valuable minerals, including gold, in the surrounding crust. Today, Lake Bosumtwi stands as one of the world's best-preserved impact craters and a remarkable record of both Earth's violent past and its hidden geological riches.
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