The Vredefort Dome, a World Heritage Site, is the oldest and largest meteorite impact site in the world. Formed an estimated 2000 million years ago when a gigantic meteorite (asteroid) hit the earth.
With a radius of 190km, it is the largest and the most deeply eroded meteorite impact site. Vredefort Dome bears witness to the world’s greatest known single energy release event, which caused devastating global change, including, according to some scientists, major evolutionary changes.
It provides critical evidence of the earth’s geological history and is crucial to our understanding of the evolution of the planet. Vredefort is the only example on earth to provide a full geological profile of an astrobleme below the crater floor.
When visiting the area you will notice small hills in a large dome shape with beautiful valleys between them.
Several landowners in the region have come together to form the Vredefort Dome Conservancy. The Conservancy is one of the province's prime adventure tourism sites with numerous tour operators and accommodation facilities catering for the needs of campers, hikers, rock climbers, canoeists and white water rafters.
It is possible to drive, cycle or walk around parts of the Dome which are either open to the public or can be accessed by permission.
Parys Info & Tourism:
Tel (056) 811 4000
c/o Buiten and Water Street, Parys
