The Holleford Crater
Text from the plaque
A meteorite travelling 55,000 kilometres per hour smashed into the earth here eons ago, blasting a hole 244 metres deep and 2.5 kilometres wide. Aerial photographs revealed the crater in 1955, and since then scientists have pieced together much of its geological history. Analyses of drill samples suggest that the meteorite struck in the late Precambrian or early Cambrian period (between 450 and 650 million years ago). At first the depression filled with water becoming a circular lake. Later Palaeozoic seas swept in sediments filling the crater to its present depth of about 30 metres. The explosive impact of the meteorite (estimated to have been only 90 metres in diameter) is still evident in the hundreds of metres of shattered rock that drilling has detected beneath the original crater floor.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The County of Frontenac
The Township of South Frontenac
About 5 km northeast of Hartington, north of Kingston,
on Trousdale Road .3 km west of Holleford Road
N 44 27.353 W 76 37.675
Recorded July 2004. Check current access before visiting.
More information
Visitors' notes
August 12, 2017
Hi, just wanted to clarify Jack Babcock or Babcook was raised 2 miles north of the Crater. Jack did go to the old school at the corner of Holleford Rd and New Morin road, near the Crater. Gail Babcook
August 7, 2013
We missed the plaque, now that I read the location is near the barn, I will go back. This ties into Desert Lake Road for an excellent motorcycle ride.Regards, Mike J
October 17, 2011
I am a relative of the owner of the Crater Farm and a distant relative of Jack Babcock. Though Jack did visit the homestead this was not his homestead. It was his uncle's home. Just thought I would put that out there.
June 18, 2011
Map is showing wrong location - waaaaay wrong. Should be: 44.455962,-76.628737 - LeeAnn Beer [Editor's Response: Thanks. Fixed.]
February 22, 2010
Hello! "Me again", after our most enjoyable drive to see the crater and plaque last summer; after which I emailed you, and thank you for writing up the clarification of its exact location. Now here is an "off-topic" subject about that farm, which is probably not relevant but I thought I'd let you know. The farm was the childhood home of Jack Babcock, Canada's oldest First World War veteran (b.July 23 1900. d.Feb. 18 2010). (Source: The Globe and Mail: Sat.Feb.20,2010. P.M12). Sincerely, Dave Welham
August 22, 2008
I stumbled on this quite by accident this morning out taking early fall color changes. I did not know this existed till now.