Vredefort crater, Impact crater and World Heritage Site in Free State, South Africa

Vredefort crater is an impact structure and World Heritage Site in Free State and North West provinces, South Africa, measuring roughly 250 kilometers across. The landscape shows concentric rock formations, upturned geological layers, and transformed mineral structures visible across much of the region.

An asteroid strike roughly 2 billion years ago created this structure when the object hit the surface at enormous speed. The impact permanently altered the rock layers and left behind one of the oldest and largest visible impact structures on the planet.

The name Vredefort comes from the town near the structure's centre, and the central uplift is called the Vredefort Dome. Four towns sit within the dome: Parys, the largest and a tourist hub, Vredefort, Koppies and Venterskroon; the latter two depend mainly on farming. The Vaal River runs through the area, and shatter cones were found in its bed.

The towns of Parys and Vredefort provide access points to the site, where marked hiking trails lead through the geological formations. Guided tours help visitors understand the different rock layers and how they formed while walking through the landscape.

The rocks at the center document roughly one third of the history of the planet and contain layers with significant gold deposits. These deep formations were brought to the surface by the impact, where they are now visible without mining equipment.