Kärdla Meteorite Crater

The Kärdla meteorite crater (Kärdla meteoriidikraater), which formed about 455 million years ago, is one of the most remarkable craters in the world. The meteorite, about half a kilometer in diameter, hit the Earth at a speed of 30–40 km/s, passing through a 100-meter-thick water layer and a 140-meter-thick sedimentary rock layer in just 0.1 seconds. The explosion that followed was approximately 25,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The crater has a diameter of 4 km, and its rim is clearly visible in Paluküla and Tubala. A viewing platform has been built in Paluküla, offering stunning views of the crater. Near the platform, there is a small stone quarry where a fissured rock layer can be observed. The Kärdla meteorite crater is located just 6 km from Kärdla Harbor.