Final answer:
Gold and water are considered natural resources because they exist naturally and are useful for producing goods and services; gold is valuable for its use in jewelry and currency, while water is crucial for life and human activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gold and water are considered as natural resources because they are found naturally in the environment and can be used for the production of goods and services. In the case of gold, its attraction as a precious metal for ornamentation and currency has been recognized for centuries. In areas like Ghana, gold mining has been an important industry, and the natural occurrence of gold in streams and other locations made it a valuable natural resource. Similarly, water is a crucial natural resource; it supports life and is essential for various human activities. While water supply can be impacted by human actions, making it a potentially limited resource in some areas, its essential role in both ecosystem maintenance and human survival is unquestionable.
Resources such as gold and water become natural resources because they are neither created nor significantly altered by humans, and because they hold value in economy either through direct utilization or by providing services such as ecological sustenance or recreational enjoyment. For instance, ecosystems and biodiversity are also considered natural resources due to the services they provide.