Rotter Kuppe | Luderitz

Information

Landmark: Rotter Kuppe
City: Luderitz
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Rotter Kuppe, Luderitz, Namibia, Africa

Rotter Kuppe (also known as Roter Kamm) is a significant meteorite impact crater situated in the southern Namib Desert within the Sperrgebiet National Park. It is located approximately 80 kilometers north of the Orange River and 130 kilometers south of Lüderitz.

Visual Characteristics

The crater appears as a distinct circular rim rising roughly 40 to 60 meters above the surrounding sand plains. It has a diameter of 2.5 kilometers and a depth of approximately 130 meters, though the interior is filled with several meters of wind-blown red sand. The rim is composed of shattered crystalline basement rock and breccia, which contrasts with the moving linear dunes of the Namib Sand Sea that partially encroach upon its western flank.

Location & Access Logistics

Access is highly restricted and requires specialized permits from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Namdeb. The site is located in a remote, trackless region of the Sperrgebiet. Reaching the crater requires a multi-day 4x4 expedition with a certified guide, equipped with satellite navigation and long-range fuel tanks. There are no marked roads; travel is conducted via GPS coordinates over soft sand and gravel plains.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The crater was formed approximately 3.7 million years ago (Pliocene epoch) by the impact of a large chondritic meteorite. The force of the impact was sufficient to metamorphose the local granitic gneiss into impact breccia. It was first identified as a probable impact site in the 1960s and later confirmed through the discovery of shocked quartz and other impactite minerals.

Key Highlights & Activities

Scientific observation and specialized geological photography are the primary activities. Visitors can hike to the crater rim to observe the stark circular geometry of the formation against the desert landscape. The site is also used as a terrestrial analog for Martian surface studies due to its extreme aridity and aeolian sand coverage.

Infrastructure & Amenities

There is zero infrastructure at Rotter Kuppe. The site has no water, shade, restrooms, or emergency facilities. All life-support systems, including food, water, and communication, must be self-contained within the expedition vehicles. There is no cell phone signal (4G/5G) or radio coverage in this sector of the park.

Best Time to Visit

The winter months (May to August) are the only viable window for travel to avoid ground temperatures that can exceed 50°C. Early morning or late afternoon provides the necessary shadows to define the crater rim for photography. High-velocity winds during the summer months make navigation and visibility nearly impossible.

Facts & Legends

Despite its age, the crater remains one of the best-preserved impact sites on Earth due to the lack of rainfall and low erosion rates in the Namib. A specific geological tip: the "red" color referenced in the name comes from the oxidized sand that has accumulated in the basin, which hides a layer of impact-melted glass and breccia situated deep beneath the surface.