13/08/2026
In 1920, a farmer ploughing a field near Grootfontein, Namibia, suddenly hit something that brought his plough to a stop. đ
Beneath the surface was an enormous mass of iron weighing around 60 tonnes. What he had discovered was the Hoba meteorite, the largest known meteorite ever found on Earth and the largest naturally occurring piece of iron known to exist on the planetâs surface. âī¸
The meteorite is composed mainly of iron, along with a significant amount of nickel. Unlike the typical rounded shape people imagine when thinking of meteorites, Hoba is a remarkably flat slab, measuring roughly nine feet by nine feet and about three feet thick.
Scientists believe its unusual shape may have helped it survive its journey through the atmosphere. Instead of crashing straight down, its flat form may have caused it to skip and slow before reaching the ground. Remarkably, there is no obvious impact crater surrounding it.
Estimated to have arrived less than 80,000 years ago, the meteorite has never been moved. At around 60 tonnes, transporting it would be an enormous challenge, so the site was eventually developed around it. đǍ
In 1955, Hoba was declared a national monument after visitors began removing pieces.
Today, the incredible 60-tonne meteorite remains exactly where it landedâstill sitting in Namibia. đŗđĻâī¸