Sobolev
Key facts
- Country
- Russia
- Diameter
- 53 m
- Age
- probably less than about 1,000 years
- Location
- 46.30° N, 137.87° E
A small round pit about 53 m across in forested mountains of the Sikhote-Alin range, in Primorsky Krai, far-eastern Russia.
Sobolev is a small meteorite crater about 53 m across in the forested Sikhote-Alin mountains of Primorsky Krai, in far-eastern Russia. It lies in the same mountain range as the famous crater field made by the Sikhote-Alin iron meteorite shower of 1947, but it is a separate and older crater.
What it hit. A meteoroid struck volcanic rocks and the soils and debris of a mountain slope. The crater is a simple bowl with a raised rim.
Proof of impact. Its bowl shape and the upturned, broken rocks of its rim fit an impact, and it is listed among Earth's confirmed impact craters. No large meteorite fragments have been reported, so the type of impactor is unknown.
Age. Trees and soil in and around the crater suggest it is young, probably less than about 1,000 years old.
Why it matters. Sobolev is one of only a handful of meteorite craters known to have formed in the last few thousand years. Its impactor is unknown.
Visiting. The crater is in remote mountain forest. Travel with local guides.
Did you know?
Sobolev lies in the same mountains as the 1947 Sikhote-Alin crater field, but is a separate crater.
It is probably less than about 1,000 years old.
The crater is only about 53 m across.