Vredefort Dome at Vredefort (a World Heritage Site) Free State, South Africa / Northern Free State Attractions and Destinations

Vredefort Dome

Free State, South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA SEARCH BY MAP REGIONS HOTELS ACCOMMODATION TOURS TRANSPORT WEDDINGS CONFERENCES INFO

western cape  garden route  eastern cape  kwazulu natal  mpumalanga  gauteng  limpopo  north west  free state  northern cape  |  namibia  |  botswana
Free State Tourism
Vredefort Dome Free State
Vredefort Dome at Vredefort, Free State, South Africa: (WHS) The Vredefort dome is the oldest and largest meteorite impact site (Asrobleme) in the world. Formed an estimated 2000 million years ago when a gigantic meteorite (larger than Table Mountain) hit the earth close to where Vredefort is today. The force of the impact opened up a crater, which is still visible, and is about 40km in diameter.

Featured Accommodation nearby:
Cosy Cottage - Potchefstroom Accommodation
Cosy Cottage B&B offers affordable, stylish, 3-star graded, self-catering accommodation (with optional meals) in private cottages with park-like gardens. Situated in the beautiful university city of Potchefstroom, in the ...
When visiting the area you will notice small hills in a large dome shape with beautiful valleys between them. Evidence has been found by geologists that the cause of this upliftment was an extreme impact event, caused by an asteroid some 10 kilometres in diameter.

The ring of hills we see now are the eroded remains of a dome created by the rebound of the rock below the impact site after the asteroid hit. The original crater, now eroded away, is estimated to have been 250 - 300 kilometres in diameter. Some 70 cubic kilometres of rock would have been vaporised in the impact.

The Vredefort structure is currently regarded the biggest and oldest clearly visible impact structure on Earth. It just beats the Sudbury impact structure in Canada for this ranking. The Sudbury structure is some 200 km in diameter and is estimated to be 1.85 billion years old.

Within the ring of hills at Vredefort is found granitic gneiss rock. The force of the impact produced deep fractures in the underlying rock. Rock melted by the impact flowed down into the cracks, producing what are now exposed as ridges of hard dark rock - the granophyre dykes. This contrasts with normal geological dykes, where molten rock from deeper in the earth has flowed upwards through cracks.

Many activities can be enjoyed in the area. From river rafting, river tubing, abseiling, horse riding, mountain biking, archery or walking. Or visits to Anglo Boer War sites, the the largest wild olive forest in South Africa at Venterskroon, or a visit to a distillery where traditional South African "witblits" (extremely strong spirits) is made.

«  Free State Game Reserves | South Africa Game Reserves »

Go to » Free State Accommodation Search by Map

South Africa Accommodation & Travel Network of Web Sites brought to you by and © SA-Venues.com and Suedafrika-Reise.net

Vredefort Dome at Vredefort (a World Heritage Site) Free State, South Africa / Northern Free State Attractions and Destinations

South Africa Accommodation • South Africa Travel • South Africa Hotels • Südafrika Reise • Südafrika • Travel Resources
Site by DTP Orbit • Accommodation Free State • Advertise • Contact • Sitemap • Gariep Dam Accommodation • Disclaimer