Roter Kamm: an ancient impact crater among the sand dunes of southern Namibia
The Roter Kamm Crater is a well-preserved impact crater in the southern Namib Desert, Namibia, formed when a meteorite struck the area several million years ago. Approximately 2.5 km wide, it is located about 10 km south-west of the Aurus Mountains within the TsauǁKhaeb National Park, a protected area which stretches along Namibia’s southern coast. It’s rim rises above the surrounding desert, while wind-blown sand has accumulated inside the crater over time.
This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 7 September 2026, shows the Roter Kamm Crater surrounded by the orange and reddish dunes of the Namib Desert. The enlarged view highlights the crater’s circular shape and sand-filled floor, while the Aurus Mountains are visible to the north-east.
Copernicus Sentinel-2 data provide high-resolution observations of the Earth’s surface, supporting the mapping and monitoring of landforms, desert environments, and changes in land cover and land use over time.
