The Ries

15 million years ago, the Ries (about 25 km in diameter) was formed by the impact of a large meteorite that hit the earth at a speed of at least 70.000 km/h. Today this crater is one of the best preserved and researched meteorite craters in the world.

Because of its similarity to many moon craters, American Apollo 14 astronauts organized a field training from 10th August to 14th August 1970 in the Ries. A result of this scientific corporation the Ries Crater Museum received a piece of the moon rocks from the Apollo 16 mission on permanent loan from NASA.

Skulls, found in two shallow moulds in the large Ofnet Caves at Holheim are 7.700 years old, according to latest scientific studies and give evidence of prehistoric settlement in the Ries.