🌋 Tswaing Crater
South Africa
About This Sacred Site
Tswaing Crater, located about 40 km northwest of Pretoria, was formed by a meteorite impact approximately 220,000 years ago. The crater contains a soda lake whose mineral-rich waters have been used for healing and purification by indigenous San and Tswana peoples for thousands of years. The name 'Tswaing' means 'place of salt' in Setswana. Archaeological evidence shows continuous human use of the site for at least 100,000 years, making it one of the longest-used sites on Earth.
Key Facts
- •Formed by a meteorite impact approximately 220,000 years ago
- •The crater is about 1.13 km in diameter and 100 meters deep
- •Archaeological evidence of human use spans at least 100,000 years
- •The soda lake's mineral-rich waters were used for healing and salt extraction
- •One of the best-preserved meteorite impact craters in the world
Location
Coordinates: -25.4083, 28.0800
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