Kaali crater, Impact crater field in Saaremaa Island, Estonia.
Kaali crater is an impact crater field on Saaremaa Island consisting of nine separate craters created by a single meteorite break-up. The largest crater spans roughly 110 meters across and holds a small lake, while the surrounding craters vary in size across the landscape.
A meteorite struck Saaremaa around 3500 years ago and fragmented upon impact, creating the multi-crater pattern visible today. The collision released tremendous energy that permanently reshaped the local landscape.
The ancient stone wall circling the main crater tells of how people long ago valued this striking landform as a special place. The site held meaning for communities who witnessed and remembered the impact event across generations.
The site features a visitor center where you can learn about the impact and explore the craters at your own pace. Morning visits tend to work best, as the paths dry out and are easier to walk than later in the day.
A 2023 discovery revealed an ancient arrowhead made from the meteorite's iron, showing that early people recognized and worked with cosmic material as a resource. This finds connects human craftsmanship directly to materials that fell from space thousands of years ago.
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