Kaali crater

Coordinates: 58°22′22″N 22°40′10″E / 58.37278°N 22.66944°E / 58.37278; 22.66944
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kaali crater
Kaali crater is located in Estonia
Kaali crater
Kaali crater
Impact location in Estonia
Impact crater/structure
ConfidenceConfirmed
Diameter110 m (360 ft)
Age3237+/-10 14C yr BP
Location
Coordinates58°22′22″N 22°40′10″E / 58.37278°N 22.66944°E / 58.37278; 22.66944
CountryEstonia
The crater as viewed from near the rim
The main crater is nearly circular. When the water level is low, rocks can be seen penetrating the surface: in the middle of the crater.
Tilted dolomite bedrock in the walls of the main crater

Kaali is a group of nine meteorite craters in the village of Kaali on the Estonian island of Saaremaa.[1] Most recent estimates put its formation shortly after 1530–1450 BC (3237+/-10 14C yr BP).[2] It was created by an impact event and is one of the few impact events that has occurred in a populated area (other ones are: Henbury craters and Carancas crater).

Before the 1930s there were several hypotheses about the origin of the crater, including theories involving vulcanism and karst processes. Its meteoritic origins were first conclusively demonstrated by Ivan Reinvald[3] in 1928, 1933 and 1937.

Formation

The impact is thought to have happened in the

silicate spherules in Estonian bogs show that the possible age of the impact craters could be approximately 7,600 years.[5] A study based on elevated iridium signal in a nearby bog suggested the much younger age of 4th century BC.[6] The craters were formed by a meteor with an estimated impact velocity of between 10 and 20 km/s (6.2 and 12.4 mi/s) with a total mass of between 20 and 80 metric tonnes. According to some researchers the meteor arrived from the north-east.[7]

At an altitude of five to ten km (20,000 to 30,000 ft), the meteor broke into pieces and fell to the Earth in fragments, the greatest of which produced a crater with a diameter of 110 m (360 ft) and a depth of 22 m (72 ft). The explosion removed approximately 81,000 m3 (2,900,000 cu ft) of dolomite and other rocks and formed a 7 to 8 km (20,000 to 30,000 ft) tall, extremely hot gas flow. Vegetation was incinerated up to 6 km (3.7 mi) from the impact site.[7]

Kaali Lake (Estonian: Kaali järv) is on the bottom of this crater. Eight smaller craters are also associated with this bombardment. Their diameters range from 12 to 40 m (39 to 131 ft) and their respective depths vary from one to four metres (3.3 to 13.1 ft). They are all within one kilometre (0.62 mi) of the main crater.

Effects

According to the theory of more recent impact, Estonia at the time of impact was in the

Hiroshima bomb blast. It incinerated forests within a six km (3.7 mi) radius.[8]

In mythology

Scholars, such as Karl Kello,

sacred lake. There is archaeological evidence[clarification needed] that it may well have been a place of ritual sacrifice. At some point during the early Iron Age, the lake was surrounded by a stone wall 470 m (1,540 ft) long, with a median width of about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) and an average height of 2.0 m (6.6 ft).[citation needed
]

forest fire
.

According to a theory first proposed by

Finnic word tule ("(of) fire") and the folklore of Estonia, which depicts the birth of the crater lake in Kaali. Kaali was considered the place where "The sun went to rest."[10]

The main crater

Namesake

The asteroid

4227 Kaali
is named after it. Except for their names, there is no connection between this asteroid and the crater.

Meteoritic iron artefacts

In 2023, archaeologists analyzed an arrowhead from Switzerland made of meteoritic iron whose composition suggested its origin from the Kaali meteorite.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Kaalijärv". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  2. ISSN 1945-5100
    .
  3. ^ "Reinwald, Ivan - Eesti Entsüklopeedia".
  4. ^ Bianca Mikovitš. Teadlaste töö tulemus Kaali kraatri vanuse määramisel ühtib vana regilauluga Maaleht, January 26, 2016
  5. ^ Raukas, A.; et al. (1995). "On the age of the meteorite craters at Kaali (Saaremaa Island, Estonia)". Proceedings of Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology 44:177–183.
  6. ISSN 1945-5100
    .
  7. ^ a b "Kaali Crater". Wondermondo. 2012-11-22.
  8. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2001.tb01830.x
    .
  9. OCLC 162329217
    .
  10. ^ a b Lennart Meri (1976). Hõbevalge (Silverwhite). Tallinn, Estonia: Eesti Raamat.
  11. hdl:20.500.11850/625369
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaali crater.

58°22′22″N 22°40′10″E / 58.37278°N 22.66944°E / 58.37278; 22.66944

Records
Preceded by The last impact event on Earth
1300 BC – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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