Devin Jacobs
Craters curved after asteroid landings on Earth have a long, rocky history—literally. While most of us go about our days without worrying about space debris, massive asteroids have crashed into our planet more times than you would have guessed and left evidence of their arrival. Let’s take a look at 15 of the most significant impact basins to ever form!
Vredefort Crater
Located in South Africa’s Free State, the Vredefort Crater is the largest confirmed impact structure on the planet. Two billion years ago, a colossal asteroid slammed into Earth, leaving a crater spanning 155-174 miles. Despite erosion shrinking it to around 99 miles in diameter, its size remains astounding.
Sudbury Basin
This ancient basin in Ontario, Canada, dates back 1.8 billion years and is still one of the most impressive asteroid impacts in Earth’s history. Measuring approximately 81 miles across, it holds the distinction of being among the oldest craters.
Acraman Crater
In South Australia’s outback lies the Acraman Crater, where an asteroid hit roughly 580 million years ago. The crater’s diameter is estimated at 56 miles, and though it’s heavily eroded, evidence of the impact is still found in surrounding geological formations.
Lonar Crater
This saline soda lake is 6,000 feet (1,830 meters) in diameter and is located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra, India. Notably, the lake’s color changes from green to pink depending on water conditions and the presence of microorganisms like Halobacteriaceae and Dunaliella salina.
Manicouagan Crater
Quebec’s Manicouagan Crater is a striking remnant of an asteroid impact that occurred 215 million years ago. The circular lake that fills part of the crater outlines its original 62-mile diameter. This impact is believed to have shaped the region’s topography and ecosystem.
Meteor Crater
The crater is located in northern Arizona, approximately 37 miles east of Flagstaff and 18 miles west of Winslow. It is recognized as one of Earth’s best-preserved meteorite impact sites, with a diameter of about 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) and a depth of 560 feet (170 meters).
Kara Crater
Found in Nenetsia, Russia, Kara Crater formed about 70.3 million years ago. Though it once stretched 40 miles, much of its original shape has been lost to erosion. Despite this, it’s still considered one of Earth’s larger impact sites, with remnants visible in modern satellite imagery.
Chicxulub Crater
The Chicxulub Crater in Mexico is infamous for its role in the mass extinction event that erased dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Measuring between 106 and 186 miles in diameter, this impact reshaped life on Earth and likely altered the planet’s climate and ecosystems for millions of years.
Popigai Crater
Siberia’s Popigai Crater was formed by an asteroid impact 35.7 million years ago, leaving a 62-mile-wide scar on the Earth. The crater is known for its industrial-grade diamond deposits, which were created by the intense pressure of the impact.
Chesapeake Bay Crater
One of the youngest craters on this list, the Chesapeake Bay Crater, formed about 35 million years ago. Its 53-mile diameter lies hidden beneath the waters of Virginia’s coastline. Recent studies have revealed it led to significant geological and environmental changes in the region.
Tunguska Event
Though it didn’t leave a crater, the 1908 Tunguska Event in Siberia was a colossal explosion believed to be a result of an asteroid or comet fragment. The blast leveled 80 million trees over 830 square miles, an area larger than many cities.
Ries Crater
In Germany, the Ries Crater formed around 14.8 million years ago and spans 16 miles in diameter. Unlike many others, it’s remarkably well-preserved, offering valuable insights into the impact process. Today, the crater’s landscape is a tourism and scientific research hub.
Gosses Bluff Crater
In Australia’s Northern Territory, the Gosses Bluff Crater is all that remains of a 142.5-million-year-old impact. The remaining central uplift, with a diameter of around 14 miles, is all that’s visible today. Despite its age, it’s still a key geological feature of the region.
Clearwater Lakes
Quebec’s Clearwater Lakes are the result of two overlapping craters formed by a double asteroid impact around 290 million years ago. Of the two, the larger spans 22 miles while the other covers 16 miles.
Kaali Crater Field
Formed relatively recently, 3,500 years ago in Estonia, its largest crater is about 360 feet across, making it one of Europe’s youngest impact sites. This event likely had a profound effect on the ancient communities nearby.