Hoba Meteorite — Earth's Largest Known Meteorite (60 Tonnes)

The Hoba meteorite is the largest known intact meteorite on Earth and it has never moved — it is simply too heavy to shift at an estimated 60 tonnes. It struck the ground about 80,000 years ago on what is now the farm Hoba West, 20km west of Grootfontein, and was discovered by farmer Jacobus Brits in 1920 when his plough came to a jarring halt. The slab measures 2.7 x 2.7 x 0.9m and is composed of 84% iron and 16% nickel. A declared national monument since 1955, the site has a well-developed visitor centre, interpretive plaques, and an amphitheatre of tiered seating that surrounds the meteorite. You can walk around it, touch it, and stand on it — and if you stand precisely in the centre, the massive iron body produces a distinctive acoustic echo. Open daily 08:00–17:00.