[meteorite-list] 200-Million-Year-Old Crater In South Africa To Become Major Tourist Attraction

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:08:23 2004
Message-ID: <200209091553.IAA24771_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://allafrica.com/stories/200209090002.html

Vredfort Dome to Become Major Tourist Attraction
South African Press Association (Johannesburg)
September 8, 2002

A 200-million-year-old meteorite crater at Vredefort in North West Province is
destined to become a major tourist attraction.

"The Vredefort Dome has been identified as a tourist icon and will be launched as
a key tourism development project by North West and Free State provinces at
Venterskroon, near Parys, on Tuesday 10 September," Mpho Motshegoa of the
North West Parks and Tourism Board said on Sunday.

Motshegoa said the dome came into being as a result of a meteorite crashing
into the earth some 200 million years, ago close to where the town of Vredefort
is today.

"The unique selling point is the astonishing unspoilt beauty geology and
biodiversity created by the meteorite, estimated to have been 10km in diameter.

"The original crater, now eroded away, is estimated to have been 300km in
diameter and the site is regularly visited by geologists from around the world,"
Motshegoa said.

Motshegoa said historical and archeological sites in the dome made it an exciting
educational and recreational tour destination for many schools, and that more
South Africans should explore this natural wonder.
Received on Mon 09 Sep 2002 11:53:28 AM PDT