Kaali Crater

Western Estonia & the Islands


Estonia has one of the world’s highest concentrations of documented meteor craters. At Kaali, 18km north of Kuressaare, is a 100m-wide, 22m-deep, curiously round lake formed by a meteorite at least 4000 years ago. There are a further eight collateral craters in the vicinity, ranging from 12m to 40m in diameter, formed by fragments of the same meteorite. To the pre-Christians, the site was known as the sun’s grave, and was used for animal sacrifice.

A tourist village of sorts has sprung up here – there’s a small museum, handicrafts stores and a hotel, as well as an old-style tavern offering Estonian fare and locally brewed beer.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Western Estonia & the Islands attractions

1. Kaali Meteoritics & Limestone Museum

0.09 MILES

A small museum devoted to the nearby meteorite crater with displays of meteorite fragments and fossils, and a film explaining the Kaali impact.

3. St Lawrence's Lutheran Church

10.57 MILES

Although this large, single-naved, dolomite church was rebuilt in its present form in 1836, its prized feature is considerably older: a medieval stone…

4. Angla Windmill Hill

10.65 MILES

Charge up those camera batteries: this is the site of the largest and most photogenic grouping of wooden windmills on the islands. By the early 16th…

5. St Catherine's Lutheran Church, Karja

10.69 MILES

The pagan and Christian meet in this fortress-like 14th-century church. Outside there’s an interesting panel about pre-Christian symbols with particular…

6. St Nicholas' Orthodox Church

10.8 MILES

Built by Catherine the Great in 1790, Saaremaa's oldest Orthodox church has twin steeples and an impressive dolomite and wrought-iron gate. A faint image…

7. Kuressaare Episcopal Castle

11.09 MILES

Majestic Kuressaare Castle stands facing the sea at the southern end of the town, on an artificial island defended by stone-faced earth bastions and…