The crater is in northern Tanzania and is a popular African tourist destination. So popular that the crater was part of an Oscar-winning film called “Out of Africa.” According to scientists, Ngorongoro crater was formed over two and a half million years ago when a volcano as large as Mount Kilimanjaro erupted then collapsed on itself. After collapsing on itself, the eruption created a large caldera. Today the caldera is an African conservation area that has over 40,000 people living there with more than 30,000 animals occupying there along with endangered species. The crater has been called the “garden of Eden” due to the crater’s beautiful landscape, majestic vistas, and an animal paradise. This breathtaking caldera is a natural wonder of Africa. The caldera measures as 600 meters deep and 20 kilometers across. The area is unflooded, unlike other broken volcanos throughout the world.

Ngorongoro Crater is a natural creation of beauty. This popular vacation destination was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. UNESCO sites are places that have “outstanding universal value” under UNESCO conventions for areas that have world cultural and natural heritage. The area is well appreciated internationally that local and international leaders monitor the crater to ensure that the tourism level is not too high. By keeping the tourism at a reasonable level, the area can be preserved for future generations that want to enjoy the beautiful scenery.