Ghana, a country in western Africa situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, boasts a rich history and diverse geography. Known for its lush forests, varied animal life, and sandy beaches, Ghana is also recognized as the first black African country south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule. This article delves into the history and formation of one of Ghana's significant water bodies, the Korle Lagoon, often referred to as the Blue Lagoon.
Map of Ghana showing its regions.
Early History and Traditional Significance
The Korle Lagoon is a body of water located in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Situated immediately to the west of the city center, it has played a vital role in Accra's history. Local tradition suggests that the first settlement in the area was established by Ewe hunters on the east bank of the lagoon.
According to local beliefs, the lagoon was inhabited by a spirit who used its powers to enchant two women, Senam and Carol (The Ewe Twins). The spirit used these women to convince the group to settle in the location for the purpose of worship.
Government Ownership and Environmental Challenges
In 1961, the Government of Ghana assumed ownership of the lagoon. The Korle Lagoon is connected to the Gulf of Guinea and was fed by the Odaw River, which flows through Accra's suburbs, covering 60% of the city's catchment area. As the primary destination for stormwater runoff, the river also became heavily polluted with waste discharged into the lagoon.
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By 2002, the combination of waste from the Odaw River, industries, and settlements on the lagoon's shores led to it being described as "one of the most polluted water bodies on earth."
Dredge Masters desilt Korle Lagoon and Odaw River
Restoration Efforts and Urban Development
In the 1990s, the government initiated the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project, aimed at restoring the lagoon to a more natural state, reducing pollution, and increasing water flow. Around this time, the unplanned settlement of Old Fadama was established on the banks of the lagoon, with its population peaking at approximately 30,000.
Ghana: A Brief Overview
Ghana is bordered to the northwest and north by Burkina Faso, to the east by Togo, to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by Côte d’Ivoire. Relief throughout Ghana is generally low, with elevations not exceeding 3,000 feet (900 meters). The southwestern, northwestern, and extreme northern parts of the country consist of a dissected peneplain made of Precambrian rocks.
Most of the remainder of the country consists of Paleozoic deposits, which are thought to rest on older rocks. These sediments are mostly beds of shales and sandstones, with strata of limestone in places. They occupy a large area called the Voltaian Basin in the north-central part of the country, where the elevation rarely exceeds 500 feet (150 meters). The basin is dominated by Lake Volta, an artificial lake that extends far into the central part of the country behind the Akosombo Dam and covers about 3,275 square miles (8,500 square km).
Map of Accra showing Korle Lagoon and sampling sites.
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Geological Features and Drainage
Along the north and south, the uplifted edges of the basin give rise to narrow plateaus between 1,000 and 2,000 feet (300 and 600 meters) high, bordered by impressive scarps, such as the Kwahu Scarp in the south and the Gambaga Scarp in the north. Surrounding the basin is the dissected Precambrian peneplain, which rises to elevations of 500 to 1,000 feet above sea level and contains several distinct ranges as high as 2,000 feet.
The drainage system is dominated by the Volta River basin, which includes Lake Volta and the Black Volta, White Volta, and Oti rivers. Most of the other rivers, such as the Pra, the Ankobra, and the Tano, flow directly south into the ocean from the watershed formed by the Kwahu Plateau, which separates them from the Volta drainage system. South of Kumasi is Ghana’s only true natural lake-Bosumtwi-lying in a meteorite impact crater and without any outlet to the sea. Along the coast are numerous lagoons, most of them formed at the mouths of small streams.
Comparison with Blue Lagoon in Iceland
While the Korle Lagoon faces environmental challenges, it's interesting to note the success story of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. The lagoon’s unique abilities were first discovered in the early 1980s when local residents began to bathe in the warm blue reservoir that had formed in the lava field beside the Svartsengi Resource Park-a geothermal power plant. Engineers at the facility had expected the water to seep through the lava and return to the earth’s volcanic aquifers.
In 1987, a doctor from Reykjavík-Grímur Sæmundsen-began to envision a more formalized future for the enchanting site, imagining a place of health and wellbeing galvanized by the bioactive properties of geothermal seawater. In 2018, the company opened the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, a luxurious geothermal resort encompassing a luxury hotel, a subterranean spa, a terraced lagoon, and a restaurant that reinvents Iceland’s culinary traditions.
Historical Figures and Island Ownership
In 1875, Charles King-Harmon bought an island from the British Crown for only 35 Pounds. Later, John T. McCutcheon, The Chicago Tribune’s chief foreign correspondent and Pulitzer Prize winner, acquired the island. He hired hundreds of laborers to dredge out the salt marsh and blasted a cut into the lagoon from the sea, planting 5,000 palm trees and building over a mile of meandering concrete paths. He even imported a zoo of animals to populate the paradise garden.
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Legacy and Modern Times
Among certain social circles in Chicago and elsewhere, it became a mark of distinction to be invited to McCutcheon’s private island. Numerous European Earls, Counts, Dukes, and Duchesses were guests. Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne, also visited for a two-week stay.
In 1991, the same storm that inspired the book and movie “The Perfect Storm” cut the island in two at the northwestern corner of the lagoon where the current bridge is located.
Excerpts taken from the book “A Family Island” by H. Shaw McCutcheon, great-grandson of John T.
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