7 Of Biggest Impact Craters Ever Discovered : The Hearty Soul

In 1993, scientists identified a massive impact crater in the United States that dwarfed the Grand Canyon. This colossal crater, hidden beneath the Earth’s surface, has sparked significant interest in the scientific community. Here’s what we know about this astonishing find.

The Discovery

About 35 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck the ocean off the East Coast of North America. This event created what is now known as the Chesapeake Bay impact crater, which is buried beneath the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Maryland. The crater spans a diameter of 25 miles, making it the largest known one in the United States and the 15th largest on Earth.¹

Read More: Satellites Find Strange ‘Sky Glow’ That Only Appears After Midnight

Geological Impact

The asteroid’s impact was catastrophic, triggering fires, earthquakes, and a massive tsunami. It also produced an ejecta layer that spread across approximately 4 million square miles, roughly ten times the size of Texas. This layer contains tektites and shocked zircon crystals, evidence of the immense energy released during the impact.

Significance of the Crater

The Chesapeake Bay impact crater provides invaluable insights into the history of Earth’s geological and biological events. According to Dr. Marc Biren, lead author of the study, “Determining accurate and precise ages of impact events is vital in our understanding of Earth’s history”. The research underscores the broader significance of impact events in shaping the planet’s development and influencing the history of life.

Other Significant Impact Craters

While the Chesapeake Bay impact crater is a remarkable find, it is just one of many around the world. Here are a few others that highlight the destructive power of asteroid impacts.

Vredefort Crater

Located in South Africa, the Vredefort Crater is the largest known impact crater on Earth. With an estimated diameter of up to 186 miles, this colossal crater was formed about 2 billion years ago by an asteroid measuring 6 to 9 miles in diameter.² The impact was so immense that it created a ring of mountains and significantly altered the region’s geology. The Vredefort Crater provides critical insights into the planet’s early history and the processes that have shaped its surface.

Chicxulub Crater

Perhaps the most famous impact crater, the Chicxulub Crater, is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Formed by an asteroid impact 66 million years ago, this crater is linked to the mass extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. The impact created a crater approximately 112 miles wide and caused global environmental changes, including massive wildfires, tsunamis, and a prolonged “impact winter” due to dust and aerosols blocking sunlight. The Chicxulub impact remains a crucial subject of study for understanding the consequences of such catastrophic events on life and climate.

Sudbury Basin

The Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada, is another significant impact site. Created about 1.8 billion years ago, the Sudbury impact is believed to have been caused by an asteroid or comet roughly 6 to 9 miles in diameter. The impact created a crater that is now heavily eroded but originally measured around 93 miles in diameter. The Sudbury Basin is one of the largest and oldest known impact craters and is notable for its rich deposits of nickel, copper, and other metals, which have made it a major mining site.

Barringer Crater

Also known as Meteor Crater, the Barringer Crater in Arizona, USA, is one of the best-preserved impact craters on Earth. Formed about 50,000 years ago by a nickel-iron meteorite approximately 160 feet in diameter, the crater is about 0.75 miles wide and 570 feet deep. The Barringer Crater provides a clear and accessible example of a recent impact event and serves as a valuable site for scientific research and public education.

Read More: 15 Facts About China’s Three George Dam: The Massive Project That Slowed the Earth’s Rotation

Lonar Crater

The Lonar Crater in Maharashtra, India, is unique because it is the only known impact crater formed in basaltic rock. Created between 35,000 and 50,000 years ago by a meteorite impact, the crater is about 1.8 miles in diameter and 500 feet deep. The Lonar Crater is an important site for studying impact processes in volcanic terrains and has significant ecological and cultural value.

Wolfe Creek Crater

Wolfe Creek Crater in Western Australia is another prominent impact site. Formed about 300,000 years ago by a meteorite, the crater is approximately 2,890 feet in diameter and 196 feet deep. The well-preserved structure of Wolfe Creek Crater makes it an important site for studying impact craters and has also become a popular tourist destination.

Hidden Impact Craters

While the Chesapeake Bay crater is the largest known in the U.S., it is not the only significant impact site on Earth. For instance, the Vredefort Crater in South Africa, which is believed to be between 111 and 186 miles wide, is the largest known crater on our planet. These craters, though often eroded and hidden, offer a window into Earth’s violent past.

Unseen Catastrophes

Impact craters are typically erased by Earth’s dynamic climate and geological processes. Despite this, there are over 190 confirmed impact structures on Earth, according to the Planetary and Space Science Centre (PASSC) at the University of New Brunswick.³ These structures provide critical data for understanding the history of our planet and predicting future impacts.

Conclusion

These impact craters, along with the one in Chesapeake Bay, underscore the dramatic and sometimes catastrophic events that have shaped Earth’s surface throughout its history. Each one provides unique insights into the processes of planetary formation, the history of life on Earth, and the potential risks posed by future asteroid impacts. As scientists continue to study these fascinating structures, our understanding of Earth’s dynamic history and its place in the solar system will continue to grow.

Read More: Great White Sharks Can Never Be Held in Aquariums For This Reason