Vredefort impact structure
| Vredefort impact structure | |
|---|---|
| Vredefort Dome | |
Vredefort Dome (centre), with the Vaal river running across it; seen from space with the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8, 27 June 2018 | |
| Impact crater/structure | |
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 170–300 km (110–190 mi) (estimated former crater diameter) |
| Age | ± 4 Ma Orosirian, Paleoproterozoic |
| Exposed | Yes |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 27°0′0″S 27°30′0″E / 27.00000°S 27.50000°E |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| Official name | Vredefort Dome |
| Includes |
|
| Criteria | Natural: (viii) |
| Reference | 1162 |
| Inscription | 2005 (29th Session) |
| Area | 30,000 ha (120 sq mi) |
The Vredefort impact structure is one of the largest impact structures on Earth. The crater, which has since been eroded away, has been estimated at 170–300 kilometres (110–190 mi) across when it was formed, the latter estimate suggesting the initial crater was larger than Chicxulub crater, the largest mostly intact impact crater on Earth. The remaining structure, comprising the deformed underlying bedrock, is located in present-day Free State province of South Africa. It is named after the town of Vredefort, which is near its centre. The structure's central uplift is known as the Vredefort Dome, which is around 100–120 kilometres (62–75 mi) in diameter. The impact structure was formed during the Paleoproterozoic Era, 2.023 billion (± 4 million) years ago. It is among the oldest known impact structures on Earth, after Yarrabubba (2.23 billion years old) and Antarctic Creek (3.47 billion years old).
In 2005, the Vredefort Dome was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its geologic interest.