Beware Of Falling Meteorites - Hoba

I've lived within 60km of the Hoba Meteorite for more than 30 years but, until recently, had never visited it.


The Meteorite was declared a National Monument in 1955 and, in 1987, the owner of the farm on which it lies donated the ground and meteorite to the Namibian Government. The uranium mining company Rössing assisted with funding to develop the area to create a community income-generating project.


Thousands of tourists visit the site each year and a humorous sign at the entrance warns of the danger of falling meteorites. Could this have been the sky that fell on Chicken Licken's head?


The area around the meteorite has been spruced-up and camping sites developed.


The Hoba meteorite left no preserved crater and its discovery was a chance event. In 1920, the owner of the land is said to have encountered the object while ploughing one of his fields with an ox.


One of the signs providing information about the meteorite - it is the largest known meteorite (as a single piece) and the most massive naturally-occurring piece of iron known at the Earth's surface.


A close up of the meteorite showing how, over the years, people have tried to hack-off pieces as souvenirs - this type of vandalism has now been stopped by having a permanent caretaker on site.

Well I'm ducking-out and I'll be laying low for a few days ... ciao.

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