The asteroid that hit was more than 10km across and briefly gouged out a crater estimated at 170–300km wide before the land rebounded and eroded over billions of years into the dome visible today. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2005, calling it the site of the world's greatest known single energy-release event. It's easy to visit — the dome forms part of the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site in the Free State, a scenic area of hills and the Vaal River.
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
How did scientists figure out Vredefort was an impact crater?
The structure was so eroded that it wasn't obvious from the ground — it was only pieced together through geological mapping and, later, confirmed using satellite imagery that revealed its circular pattern of uplifted rock.
Why is Vredefort considered more significant than other big craters, like Chicxulub in Mexico?
Vredefort's original crater is estimated to have been larger than Chicxulub's, and because it's the oldest confirmed impact site with an intact geological profile below the crater floor, it gives scientists a rare, complete record of how such enormous impacts reshape the Earth's crust.
Does the impact still matter for South Africa today?
Yes — the same geological upheaval that formed the dome is linked to the mineral-rich Witwatersrand Basin nearby, home to some of the richest gold deposits ever found, and the dome itself now supports tourism and conservation in the Free State.