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Extract from the Chapter
3. The Lonar Crater Lake, Maharashtra
The Lonar Crater Lake is a geological wonder, nestled in the town of Lonar in Buldhana district, Maharashtra. It is believed to have been formed thousands of years ago. This ancient landform, consisting of a giant hole, came into existence when a colossal meteorite, blazing at an extremely high speed, crashed into the Earth, leaving behind a stunning mark. It is the only crater in India formed in basaltic rock by a meteorite impact and ranks as the third largest in the world, placing it among the top five largest craters globally.
The crater’s perfectly circular depression cradles a unique saline lake at its core, creating a striking visual contrast against the surrounding rugged terrain. This site is a rare and extraordinary blend of celestial impact and terrestrial beauty. The rim of the meteor crater offers a breath-taking spectacle of nature’s power and the enduring allure of our planet’s ancient past.
The Lonar Crater Lake is a geological wonder, nestled in the town of Lonar in Buldhana district, Maharashtra. It is believed to have been formed thousands of years ago. This ancient landform, consisting of a giant hole, came into existence when a colossal meteorite, blazing at an extremely high speed, crashed into the Earth, leaving behind a stunning mark. It is the only crater in India formed in basaltic rock by a meteorite impact and ranks as the third largest in the world, placing it among the top five largest craters globally.
The crater’s perfectly circular depression cradles a unique saline lake at its core, creating a striking visual contrast against the surrounding rugged terrain. This site is a rare and extraordinary blend of celestial impact and terrestrial beauty. The rim of the meteor crater offers a breath-taking spectacle of nature’s power and the enduring allure of our planet’s ancient past.
nestled
— situated in a half-hidden or sheltered position
colossal
— extremely large
cradles
— holds
rugged
— rough
terrestrial
— on or related to earth
allure
— attraction
Summary in Bullet Points
- Location: Lonar town, Buldhana district, Maharashtra.
- Origin: The crater formed after a meteorite impact thousands of years ago.
- Rarity: The textbook highlights the basaltic-rock impact origin.
- Visual feature: A circular depression holds a saline lake against rugged terrain.
Questions from this Section
What makes the Lonar Crater Lake unusual?
2 Marks
How to answer:
State the phenomenon and its direct explanation.
View Answer
Answer: It is a meteorite-impact crater formed in basaltic rock and contains a saline lake inside its circular depression, making it a rare geological site.
Explain the phrase ‘a blend of celestial impact and terrestrial beauty’ in relation to Lonar.
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain what the detail shows beyond the basic fact.
View Answer
Answer: The crater began with a meteorite from space, which is the celestial impact. The lake, depression and rugged land on Earth create terrestrial beauty. The phrase joins its space-related origin with its present landscape.
