Kaali Meteorite Crater
The rarest sight of nature in Estonia can be found on Saaremaa – Kaali crater, which was proven to be of astral origin first in Europe, then in the US, after the craters found in Arizona. Did you know that there are actually 9 meteorite craters in Kaali?
KAALI Museum of Meteoritics and Limestone
Opening hours:
- May – September
Every day from 9 AM to 8 PM. - October – April
Every day from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Tickets:
- Adults 1,50 €
- Children 1 €
Offers for groups: bigger groups get a discount if the museum visit is ordered together with dining at the KAALI Tavern.
Good to know! If the door to the museum is closed, ask entrance from the shop of Kaali, located in the same building. From the shop, you can find hand-crafted items made from Saaremaa’s bedrock.
About the Museum
KAALI Museum of Meteoritics and Limestone is dedicated to Kaali crater and to Saaremaa’s limestone. In the museum you can discover the fascinating world of meteorites and the craters they’ve left behind, as well as learn of the impact meteorites have had on Earth’s history.
The Museum has various exhibits and exhibitions, teaching you about the origin and composition of meteorites and their mark on our planet. In our collection, we also possess a rarity – a 96 kg piece of the Sinhote-Alini meteorite, originating from Far East. This iron meteorite’s composition resembles that of Kaali meteorite. The magnitude of the explosion that followed Kaali meteoroid’s impact with Saaremaa was similiar to the one that followed the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In addition, you can learn about the history of the impacts of the nine meteoroids, which crashed here, in Kaali and how these have impacted Kaali’s landscape today.
The museum features an exhibition which introduces Saaremaa’s limestone’s history – how it has been used as a construction material, affected local architecture and its’ properties.
Museum’s building was opened in 2005 and was built using traditional local construction techniques. Outer and inner walls were layed down with hand cut limestone, the ceiling and roof are made out of wood.
