Tswaing Meteorite Crater Museum - Northern Gauteng

The Tswaing Meteorite Crater Museum is located about 40 kilometers north of Pretoria in Gauteng, South Africa. The name "Tswaing" means "Place of Salt" in Setswana, referencing the saline lake found at the crater's center. Formed approximately 220,000 years ago by the impact of a large meteorite, the crater is about 1.4 kilometers in diameter and 200 meters deep, making it one of the world's best-preserved impact craters. The museum focuses on the geological, environmental, and cultural significance of the site, offering educational exhibits, hiking trails, and picnic areas.

Visitors can explore a 7.2-kilometer hiking trail that loops around the crater, providing insight into the natural beauty and scientific importance of the site. Exhibits in the museum detail the formation of the crater, its unique ecosystems, and the human history surrounding its use.

The meteorite itself was probably about 30-50m across with an impact velocity of nearly 100 000 km/hr, which would have created a 20-40 Megaton explosion - the equivalent of 1,000 Hiroshima nuclear bombs. The resulting blast wave would have flattened trees for at least a 20 km radius.

Contact Details:
Phone: +27 12 790 2302
Email: see website
Website: https://ditsong.org.za/en/tswaing-meteorite

Location of Museum/Visitors Centre: -25.415504426767097, 28.099969865704203
Location of crater: -25.409571393555325, 28.081471102039004