A meteorite crater in Vepriai
Currently, up to 200 impact craters have been found in the world, formed when meteorites hit the Earth’s surface. These craters are unique geologic structures of cosmic origin, witnesses of geologic history, and economically valuable reservoirs of minerals. So far, two impact craters have been found on the territory of Lithuania: The Vepriai crater in the Ukmergė district, in the valley of the Šventoji river, in the territory of the Vepriai precinct, and the Mizarai crater near Druskininkai, buried under a sedimentary layer.
The diameter of the Vepriai meteorite crater is about 8 km. It was discovered in 1978 after detecting extremely high-pressure rocks in the well. The crater was formed when an asteroid of meteoric origin, approximately 300 m in diameter, hit the soft sedimentary rocks of the Paleozoic – sandstone, limestone, so its depth was over 500 m. Later, the crater was filled with rock debris that fell back after the explosion or washed from the slopes during the ice ages, above which a layered column of clay and sand formed. The upper layers were formed during the Jurassic period, in a small lake that formed in the crater. According to the age of the sediments, it was established that the meteorite fell 150-160 million years ago. Even later, the crater was covered by Quaternary sediments, so now data about the crater and its rocks are obtained only through boreholes. Vepriai crater is the largest discovered meteorite crater on the territory of Lithuania.
Unfortunately, we cannot see it directly as after the explosion, the crater was covered with a layer of sediment. In the picturesque surroundings of Vepriai region you will find a lake with floating islands, pure water spring, mythological boulders, mounds, and other attractions…
Currently, up to 200 impact craters have been found in the world, formed when meteorites hit the Earth’s surface. These craters are unique geologic structures of cosmic origin, witnesses of geologic history, and economically valuable reservoirs of minerals. So far, two impact craters have been found on the territory of Lithuania: The Vepriai crater in the Ukmergė district, in the valley of the Šventoji river, in the territory of the Vepriai precinct, and the Mizarai crater near Druskininkai, buried under a sedimentary layer.
The diameter of the Vepriai meteorite crater is about 8 km. It was discovered in 1978 after detecting extremely high-pressure rocks in the well. The crater was formed when an asteroid of meteoric origin, approximately 300 m in diameter, hit the soft sedimentary rocks of the Paleozoic – sandstone, limestone, so its depth was over 500 m. Later, the crater was filled with rock debris that fell back after the explosion or washed from the slopes during the ice ages, above which a layered column of clay and sand formed. The upper layers were formed during the Jurassic period, in a small lake that formed in the crater. According to the age of the sediments, it was established that the meteorite fell 150-160 million years ago. Even later, the crater was covered by Quaternary sediments, so now data about the crater and its rocks are obtained only through boreholes. Vepriai crater is the largest discovered meteorite crater on the territory of Lithuania.
Unfortunately, we cannot see it directly as after the explosion, the crater was covered with a layer of sediment. In the picturesque surroundings of Vepriai region you will find a lake with floating islands, pure water spring, mythological boulders, mounds, and other attractions…
