Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All India Buldhana Lonar Lake

Lonar Lake

This rare basalt crater lake is used to study the Moon and Mars.

Buldhana, India

Added By
emdb
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Lonar Lake is a saline soda lake made from a meteorite impact.   V4vjk/CC BY-SA 3.0
This huge dent is a crater lake formed by a meteorite impact.   Vivek Ganesan/CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunset at Lonar Lake.   Pranabk/CC BY-SA 4.0
Lonar Lake.   Ganeshrg/CC BY-SA 3.0
Lonar Lake, as seen from space.   NASA/Public Domain
Lonar Lake.   VinyS/CC BY-SA 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Approximately 50,000 years ago, a meteorite traveling at about 11 miles per second slammed into India’s Deccan Plateau. The collision formed Lonar Lake, the one of the largest, most unique basalt impact craters in the world.

The oval-shaped crater, which has a circumference of about five miles at the top, is both saline and alkaline. Perennial streams and springs feed into the lake. It’s home to a horde of algae and plankton species that thrive in its unusual ecosystem and give the water its vibrant color.

Because of its basaltic surface, scientists now use Lonar Lake to study craters and impact structures on other, more difficult to reach places like the Moon and Mars.

When the lake was first brought to international attention in the 19th century, scientists originally thought it was of volcanic origins. However, in the mid 20th century, geologists began to suspect it stemmed from an extraterrestrial encounter. Their suspicions were confirmed after maskelynite, a glass formed by high-velocity impacts, was found at the site.

Lonar Lake is rimmed by lush forests and a smattering of old temples. Supposedly, compasses fail to work near some parts of the crater because of its unique geologic makeup.

Related Tags

Lakes Meteorites Geographic Oddities Geological Oddities World's Largest Geology Water

Know Before You Go

It maybe useful to get a guide to take you on the many beautiful trails.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Delhi and Rajasthan: Colors of India

Discover Colorful Rajasthan: From Delhi to Jaipur and Beyond.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

emdb

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

August 10, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonar_crater_lake
  • https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=8654
  • https://www.princeton.edu/geosciences/people/maloof/papers_pub/18Maloof.pdf
  • http://www.natgeotraveller.in/lonar-lake-the-meteor-mystery-that-has-even-nasa-intrigued/
  • http://www.moef.nic.in/sites/default/files/nlcp/Indian%20Case%20Studies/Q-45.pdf
  • http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1995BASI...23..105T
  • http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2003.tb00272.x/full
Lonar Lake
Lonar Lake
Buldhana
India
19.975506, 76.503925
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta, India

miles away

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Aurangabad, India

miles away

Ellora Caves

Verul, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 338
Stories 107

Nearby Places

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta, India

miles away

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Aurangabad, India

miles away

Ellora Caves

Verul, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 338
Stories 107

Related Places

  • A view of the perfectly round Lac Pavin.

    Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France

    Lac Pavin

    This volcanic crater lake is renowned for its perfectly round shape, stunning blue-green waters, and unique geological properties.

  • The salt lake becomes colorful in warm temperatures because of algae growth

    Yuncheng, China

    Yuncheng Salt Lake

    Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

  • Scoria cone in the Waw an Namus caldera.

    Libya

    Waw an Namus

    Surrounded by a smudge of dark earth, this isolated volcano sits in stark contrast to the surrounding Sahara.

  • Lake Posta Fibreno

    Carpello, Italy

    Lake Posta Fibreno

    This serene, turquoise lake in an extraordinary nature reserve showcases a rare natural phenomenon.

  • Footprints on the dunes.

    Mears, Michigan

    Silver Lake Sand Dunes

    An unlikely beach paradise of giant sand dunes lies between two lakes just a few minutes from Michigan's cherry country.

  • Don Juan Pond.

    Antarctica

    Don Juan Pond

    Scientists use one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth as a terrestrial base for studying water on Mars.

  • The lake.

    San Bernardino County, California

    Searles Lake

    This sun-scorched lakebed contains samples of half the natural elements known to humankind.

  • Laguna Rosa, Torrevieja, Spain

    Torrevieja, Spain

    The Pink Lake of Torrevieja

    Bacteria and algae give the salty water its bubblegum hue.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.