Meteorite Kaalijärv – Saaremaa, Estonia
Type: iron meteorite / octahedrite IAB
Locality: Saaremaa, Estonia
Weight: 2,9g
Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 1 mm
Year found: 1937
Total known weight: 2,25 kg
Surface treatment: cut, polished slice
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
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The Kaalijärv Meteorite and the Best Preserved Impact Crater in Northern Europe
The Kaalijärv meteorite, an iron body estimated to weigh 20 to 80 tons, entered the Earth's atmosphere thousands of years ago and caused one of the most powerful impacts in Northern Europe. It was an IAB-type meteorite composed mainly of metallic iron and nickel. Due to its high mass and velocity, it did not disintegrate completely in the atmosphere – the body reached the Earth's surface, releasing a large amount of kinetic energy upon impact.
The meteorite impact created a series of craters, the largest of which, known today as the Main Kaali Crater, has a diameter of approximately 110 meters and a depth of around 22 meters. Within a radius of about 1 kilometer, there are eight smaller craters, which likely formed due to the fragmentation of the meteorite just before impact. The impact energy was equivalent to the explosion of several thousand tons of TNT, causing the immediate destruction of forest cover in the wider area.
Impact Age
Estimates of the event's age vary slightly. Radiocarbon dating of organic remains in the ejecta of the main crater indicates the impact occurred around 1500 BCE, while some other geological studies place the event between 4000 and 7000 years ago. The differences in dating result from the various methods and materials analyzed (carbon vs. sediments vs. shells).
Archaeological Significance
Evidence of human presence at the time of the impact is significant. Archaeological findings show that the crater was surrounded by a stone wall in prehistoric times and was probably used for ritual or symbolic purposes. The presence of human activity shortly after the impact suggests that people either witnessed the event or incorporated its consequences into their culture.
Current State of the Site
Today, the area is protected as part of the Kaali Landscape Conservation Area and is open to the public. The main crater is partially filled with water and functions as a lake. The site is considered one of the most significant meteorite structures in Europe.