The Kaali Crater
On an Estonian island, a round lake sits in a crater made when a meteorite exploded overhead within human memory.
What was reported
On the island of Saaremaa in Estonia, a round lake about 110 metres across lies in a deep crater surrounded by a ring of rock and trees. Eight smaller craters lie nearby. Local legends tell of the sun falling to earth.
Archaeologists have found signs of an ancient settlement and offerings around the crater, suggesting it was a sacred place.
Explanations offered
Scientists confirmed it was made by an iron meteorite that broke up in the atmosphere, probably between about 3,500 and 4,000 years ago, when the island was inhabited. The impact would have been witnessed by people living nearby, and some researchers think it is remembered in Baltic and Finnish myths.
- When
- Formed about 3,500 years ago
- Where
- Saaremaa island, Estonia
- Witnesses
- Islanders and scientists
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.