Vredefort Meteorite impact crater
Gigantic meteorite of 10 kilometres causing a blast of over a thousand-megaton
Event: 2,023 million years ago the world’s greatest single, known energy release event took place .A gigantic meteorite (asteroid), 10 kilometres in diameter hit the earth 100km south west of Johannesburg. The meteorite, estimated to be larger than Table Mountain, caused a blast of over a thousand-megaton. Approximately 70 cubic kilometers of rock would have been instantly vaporized. Result: A massive impact crater, with a radius of over 190km, the world’s largest and most deeply eroded impact crater.
Now known as the Vredefort Dome. An Earthquake of a far greater magnitude than that seen today, would have shaken the planet. The force of this collision was certainly far greater that the impact that was to exterminate dinosaurs some 65 million years ago. The force of impact produced deep fractures in the underlying rock with surface melted rock flowing downwards into these cracks. Producing exposed ridges of hard rock – Granophyres dykes.
The earth's oxygen levels became elevated, leading to the development of multi cellular life.
Gold bearing rocks of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg and surrounding areas) that were deposited 800 million years before the Vredefort impact, were covered with debris from the blast, protecting the reef from erosion until the gold reef discovery of 1886. Worldwide impact: Causing enormous global transformation, including major evolutionary changes. Dust ejected from the crater was carried around the world.
The Vredefort dome Scar
The Vredefort dome original impact scar measured an estimated 380km across with three concentric circles of displaced rock, created by rebounding rock below the impact site. The inner concentric circle, measuring 180km, is clearly visible today. Today: The Vredefort Dome is the biggest and oldest meteorite impact site in the world. The site has provided significant evidence to the earth’s geological history and has lead to a greater understanding of our evolution.
World Heritage Site
South Africa’s seventh World Heritage Site and third natural Heritage Site. Vredefort is the only meteorite site to provide a full geological profile below the crater floor. View: A partial, arcing ring of hills can be seen from the air, created by the rebounding of rock below the impact site on impact by the meteorite. The area contains a balanced ecosystem of open plains, bushveld, mountains and ravines. An area of great scenic beauty with an abundance of flora and fauna with over 100 plant species and is an important birding area, over 450 species.
Ekala Eco Tours use qualified and registered guides - not drivers only.
Daily Crater tours available - 7 days a week.
Tswaing Meteorite Crater:
Significantly younger than the Vredefort crater, the Tswaing Meteorite Crater was formed 220 000 years ago. One of the worlds youngest and best preserved, bowl shaped meteorite craters. The crater, 100 meters deep and 1.3 km wide is situated 40 km north west of Pretoria/Tshwane.
2 separate events with some 2 billion years between them - Vredefort Meteorite impact crater and the Tswaing Meteorite impact crater.
Tswaing, meaning place of salt in tswana, was for many years believed to be a volcanic crater. The locals and Sangomas believed in a magical realm in the near perfectly circular crater.
Evidence through core samples taken from the centre of the crater, were to later confirm the Tswaing crater was indeed a meteorite crater, formed by a hypervelocity impact of a large meteorite.
Can be done as a full day tour. please Contact Ekala Eco Tours - info@ekalatours.com - for tour details.
For Vredefort and Tswaing Meteorite impact crater tour details or bookings - please Contact Ekala Eco Tours
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Please Contact Ekala Eco Tours - info@ekalatours.com - for - tour details - Personalised attention - Bookings
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For further information on the Vredefort Meteorite impact crater tour please Contact Ekala Eco Tours. We look forward to hearing from you - info@ekalatours.com.