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Lonar crater is bowl
shaped depression formed 50,000 years ago by the impact of a huge meteor
that descended on earth from space and carved out a bowl roughly 7 km. in
circumstance and 1.8 km. in diameter. The size and the age make it the
largest and oldest meteoric crater in the world, ante-dating its
nearest rival, the Canyon-Diabolo of Arizona in the United States by a
clear 230 centuries. This is only crater in world created by hypervelocity
meteoritic impact in basaltic rock. The scientific research have revealed
that the stone mass which struck the earth was approximately 60 m. in
diameter weighing about a million tones. The force of impact is estimated
to have generated energy equivalent to six megatons of explosion. Lonar
crater is situated within Parvani qudrangle in the Buldana district of
Maharashtra. The maximum elevation in the area is 669 m and the minimum is
370 m.
Lonar
(Tal. Lonar, District Buldhana).
Here's a chance to see India's magnificent hypervelocity
meteorite - impact crater. Lonar ranks amongst the world's
five largest craters. Investigations reveal it to be around
40,4000 years old. Within the depression lies a saline lake.
See the ruins of temples constructed in the Hemadpanti style,
where Lord Narasimha, Ganesh, Renukadevi and Shiva were once
worshipped. At the village around the crater, you can listen
to many legends about Lonar. A fascinating sight is the
presence of hundreds of peafowls which live inside the crater.
Besides other resident and migratory birds, you can spot
monitor lizards, Hanuman Langoors, Chinkaras and Gazelles, if
you're lucky.
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