Mystery or the unexplained · 1967
Kärdla crater: the volcano that wasn't
In 1967 a well was drilled on the Paluküla rise in Hiiumaa. At 22 metres it struck crystalline bedrock, which should have lain about 250 metres down. Geologists were puzzled for years. Some blamed complex faults. In 1973 and 1974 others concluded it was the crater of an explosive volcano. Only in 1981 did Leningrad geologist Viktor Masaitis show that a cosmic body had exploded here about 455 million years ago. The buried crater is 4 km wide. Mineral water was pumped from its depths for some years, and Estonia's deepest borehole, 815 metres, was drilled into it. A viewing platform at Paluküla shows part of the rim.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
1967. aastal puuriti Hiiumaal Paluküla kõrgendikul kaevu. 22 meetri sügavusel tabati kristalset aluskorda, mis oleks pidanud asuma umbes 250 meetri sügavusel. Geoloogid murdsid aastaid pead. Mõned seletasid seda keeruliste murrangutega. 1973. ja 1974. aastal jõuti järeldusele, et tegu on plahvatusliku vulkaani kraatriga. Alles 1981. aastal näitas Leningradi geoloog Viktor Masaitis, et siin plahvatas umbes 455 miljonit aastat tagasi kosmiline keha. Mattunud kraatri läbimõõt on 4 km. Selle sügavusest pumbati mõnda aega mineraalvett ja sinna rajati Eesti sügavaim, 815 meetri sügavune puurauk. Paluküla vaateplatvormilt paistab osa kraatri vallist.