International visitors explore meteorite craters in the Ries and the Swabian Alb

A tour group from the Finnish UNESCO Global Geopark Impact Crater Lake – Lappajärvi visited the UNESCO Geopark Ries in May as part of an Erasmus+ project. After several excursions in the Nördlinger Ries, the visit also took the group to the neighboring UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb—specifically to the meteorite crater in Steinheim am Albuch. There, Iris Bohnacker from the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb welcomed the guests at the Steinheim Meteorite Crater Museum, which is designated as a Geopark information center.

The Finnish group was accompanied by meteorite crater expert Teemu Öhman. The visit focused on scientific exchange and joint excursions to the impressive impact craters in both regions.

The UNESCO Ries Geopark is closely integrated into international networks and the EU’s Erasmus+ program. Partnerships with other crater geoparks—including the Finnish UNESCO Global Geopark Impact Crater Lake–Lappajärvi—promote scientific exchange, joint educational projects, and collaboration on geological research topics.

Iris Bohnacker from the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb welcomed the guests at the Steinheim Meteorite Crater Museum, followed by an informative guided tour of the exhibition. The Finnish visitors were particularly impressed by the numerous fossilized bones of large mammals found in the former Steinheim crater lake.

In glorious weather, the group then enjoyed a breathtaking view of the striking crater structure of the Steinheim Basin from the Burgstall lookout point.

INFO: The Finnish UNESCO Global Geopark Impact Crater Lake – Lappajärvi was designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2024. At its heart lies Lake Lappajärvi in western Finland, Europe’s largest confirmed impact crater lake, which was formed by a meteorite impact approximately 78 million years ago.