Roter Kamm
Key facts
- Country
- Namibia
- Diameter
- 2.5 km
- Age
- about 3.7 million years
- Location
- 27.77° S, 16.30° E
A round crater about 2.5 km across with a reddish rim rising about 130 m above a sand-filled floor, in the coastal Namib Desert.
Roter Kamm, in the southern Namib Desert of Namibia, is a crater surrounded by sand. Its name is German for "red comb", after the reddish rocks of its rim. It lies in a remote area that was, for most of the twentieth century, closed to the public because of diamond mining.
The impact. About 3.7 million years ago a meteorite struck the ancient rocks of the region, forming a crater about 2.5 km across. The rim rises about 130 m above the crater floor. Since the impact, wind-blown sand from the Namib Desert has filled much of the crater, so its floor is now covered by a thick layer of sand.
Recognition. In 1965 the American geologist Robert Dietz suggested that the round crater was probably made by a meteorite. Proof came in the 1970s and later, when scientists found shocked minerals and impact melt rock in the rim and ejecta.
The Sperrgebiet. Roter Kamm lies in what was once called the Sperrgebiet, German for "forbidden area". This large region along the coast of southern Namibia was closed in 1908 after diamonds were found there, and for decades access was strictly controlled. Much of the area is now part of the Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park, created in 2004. It contains spectacular desert landscapes and a remarkable variety of plants, many found nowhere else. However, access is still restricted and requires permits.
Desert winds. The southern Namib is an extremely windy place. Strong winds blowing from the south carry sand across the landscape, filling the crater and shaping dunes around it. Over time, these winds will continue to bury the crater, just as they have buried Wabar in Arabia.
Why it matters. Roter Kamm is an example of a well-preserved simple crater in a desert setting. Its age makes it a useful comparison with younger and older craters, and its sand-filled interior shows how quickly desert processes can modify a crater. It is the only confirmed impact crater in Namibia.
Visiting. Because it lies in a restricted area, Roter Kamm can only be visited with a permit, usually on an organised tour. Visitors should follow all rules about access and collecting, as the area is protected both for its diamonds and its natural heritage.
Namibian meteorites. Namibia is also famous for the Gibeon iron meteorite, whose fragments are scattered over a large area further inland, and for the Hoba meteorite, the largest known meteorite on Earth. Neither is connected with Roter Kamm.
Did you know?
Roter Kamm means "red comb" in German, after the colour of its rim.
The crater lies in a former diamond-mining area that was closed to the public for decades.
Wind-blown sand has filled much of the crater's floor.