UNESCO World Heritage Site (Vredefort Dome)
E593268
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Vredefort Dome is the world’s largest and oldest known meteor impact structure, located in South Africa and recognized for its exceptional geological significance.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Vredefort Dome | 0 |
Statements (45)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
UNESCO World Heritage Site
ⓘ
geological formation ⓘ impact structure ⓘ meteorite impact crater ⓘ |
| approximateAge | about 2.023 billion years ⓘ |
| continent | Africa ⓘ |
| coreDiameter | about 90 kilometers ⓘ |
| country | South Africa ⓘ |
| distinction |
world’s largest known meteor impact structure
ⓘ
world’s oldest known meteor impact structure ⓘ |
| geologicalFeature |
central uplift
ⓘ
exposed deep crustal rocks ⓘ impact-related deformation structures ⓘ shocked rocks ⓘ |
| governedBy | Republic of South Africa NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| hasConservationStatus | protected area ⓘ |
| impactEventType | meteorite impact ⓘ |
| impactOnScience |
evidence for role of impacts in Earth’s evolution
ⓘ
improved understanding of large impact structures ⓘ |
| impactStructureDiameter | about 300 kilometers (original estimated diameter) ⓘ |
| locatedIn |
Free State Province
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| locatedNear |
Parys
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Vredefort NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| nearbyRiver | Vaal River NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| partOf |
Earth’s early Proterozoic geological record
ⓘ
Vredefort impact structure NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| recognizedFor |
evidence of the Earth’s geological history
ⓘ
exceptional geological significance ⓘ record of a large meteorite impact ⓘ |
| shows |
evidence of large-scale crustal deformation
ⓘ
evidence of shock metamorphism ⓘ |
| tourismActivity |
geotourism
ⓘ
guided geological tours ⓘ hiking ⓘ rock climbing ⓘ |
| UNESCOListingReason |
exceptional record of the Earth’s geological history
ⓘ
outstanding example of geological processes associated with large meteorite impacts ⓘ |
| UNESCOWorldHeritageCategory | Natural ⓘ |
| UNESCOWorldHeritageCriteria | (viii) ⓘ |
| UNESCOWorldHeritageDesignationYear | 2005 ⓘ |
| UNESCOWorldHeritageID | 1162 ⓘ |
| UNESCOWorldHeritageRegion | Africa NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| usedFor |
geological education
ⓘ
scientific research on impact cratering ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.