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List of impact structures on Earth

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World map in equirectangular projection of the craters on the Earth Impact Database as of November 2017 (in the SVG file, hover over a crater to show its details)

This list of impact structures on Earth contains a selection of the 190 confirmed craters given in the Earth Impact Database as of 2017.[1][a]

To keep the lists manageable, only the largest impact structures within a time period are included. Alphabetical lists for different continents can be found under Impact structures by continent below.

Confirmed impact structures listed by size and age

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These features were caused by the collision of meteors (consisting of large fragments of asteroids) or comets (consisting of ice, dust particles and rocky fragments) with the Earth. For eroded or buried craters, the stated diameter typically refers to the best available estimate of the original rim diameter, and may not correspond to present surface features. Time units are either in ka (thousands) or Ma (millions) of years.

10 ka or less

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Less than ten thousand years old, and with a diameter of 100 m (330 ft) or more. The EID lists fewer than ten such craters, and the largest in the last 100,000 years (100 ka) is the 4.5 km (2.8 mi) Rio Cuarto crater in Argentina.[2] However, there is some uncertainty regarding its origins[3] and age, with some sources giving it as < 10 ka[2][4] while the EID gives a broader < 100 ka.[3]

The Kaali impacts (c. 1500 BC) during the Nordic Bronze Age may have influenced Estonian and Finnish mythology,[5] the Campo del Cielo (c. 2500 BC) could be in the legends of some Native American tribes,[6][7] while Henbury (c. 2700 BC) has figured in Australian Aboriginal oral traditions.[8]

Macha crater field map
One of the Kaali craters
Name Location Country Diameter
(km)
Age
(ka)
Date Coordinates
Wabar Rub' al Khali desert Saudi Arabia 000.1 < 00.2 ~1800 AD 21°30′N 50°28′E / 21.500°N 50.467°E / 21.500; 50.467
Whitecourt Alberta Canada 000.04 < 01.1
900 AD
54°00′N 115°36′W / 54.000°N 115.600°W / 54.000; -115.600
Kaali Saaremaa Estonia 000.1 < 03.5 01500 BC 58°24′N 22°40′E / 58.400°N 22.667°E / 58.400; 22.667
Campo del Cielo Chaco Argentina 000.1[7] < 04.5 02500 BC 27°38′S 61°42′W / 27.633°S 61.700°W / -27.633; -61.700
Henbury Northern Territory Australia 000.2 < 04.7 02700 BC 24°34′S 133°8′E / 24.567°S 133.133°E / -24.567; 133.133
Morasko Poznań Poland 000.1 < 05.0[9] 03000 BC 52°29′N 16°54′E / 52.483°N 16.900°E / 52.483; 16.900
Boxhole Northern Territory Australia 000.2 < 05.4 03400 BC 22°37′S 135°12′E / 22.617°S 135.200°E / -22.617; 135.200
Ilumetsa Põlva County Estonia 000.08 < 06.6 <4600 BC 57°57′N 27°24′E / 57.950°N 27.400°E / 57.950; 27.400
Macha Sakha Republic Russia 000.3 < 07.3 05300 BC 60°6′N 117°35′E / 60.100°N 117.583°E / 60.100; 117.583
Rio Cuarto (disputed) Córdoba Province Argentina 004.5 < 10 ?[2][4] <8000 BC 32°53′S 64°13′W / 32.883°S 64.217°W / -32.883; -64.217

For the Rio Cuarto craters, 2002 research suggests they may actually be aeolian structures.[10] The EID gives a size of about 50 m (160 ft) for Campo del Cielo, but other sources quote 100 m (330 ft).[7]

10 ka to 1 Ma

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From between 10 thousand years and one million years ago, and with a diameter of less than one km (0.62 mi):

Name Location Country Diameter
(km)
Age
(ka)
Coordinates
Wolfe Creek Western Australia Australia 0.9 < 120 19°10′18″S 127°47′44″E / 19.17167°S 127.79556°E / -19.17167; 127.79556
Monturaqui Atacama Desert Chile 0.455 640 ± 140 23°55′40″S 68°15′41″W / 23.92778°S 68.26139°W / -23.92778; -68.26139

From between ten thousand years and one million years ago, and with a diameter of one km (0.62 mi) or more. The largest in the last one million years is the 14-kilometre (8.7 mi) Zhamanshin crater in Kazakhstan and has been described as being capable of producing a nuclear-like winter.[11]

However, the currently unknown source of the enormous Australasian strewnfield (c. 780 ka) could be a crater about 100 km (62 mi) across.[12][13]

Meteor Crater, 1.2 km (0.75 mi)
Tenoumer crater, 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
Name Location Country Diameter
(km)
Age
(ka)
Coordinates
Tenoumer Sahara Desert Mauritania 01.9 021 22°55′2″N 10°24′28″W / 22.91722°N 10.40778°W / 22.91722; -10.40778
Yilan Heilongjiang China 01.85 049 46°23′4″N 129°19′39″E / 46.38444°N 129.32750°E / 46.38444; 129.32750
Meteor Crater Arizona United States 01.2 049 35°1′39″N 111°1′22″W / 35.02750°N 111.02278°W / 35.02750; -111.02278
Xiuyan Xiuyan China 01.8 050 40°21′42″N 123°27′47″E / 40.36167°N 123.46306°E / 40.36167; 123.46306
Lonar Maharashtra India 01.8 052 19°58′37″N 76°30′32″E / 19.97694°N 76.50889°E / 19.97694; 76.50889
Agoudal[14] Atlas Mountains Morocco 03.0 105 31°59′N 5°30′W / 31.983°N 5.500°W / 31.983; -5.500
Tswaing Pretoria Saltpan South Africa 01.1 220 25°24′32″S 28°4′58″E / 25.40889°S 28.08278°E / -25.40889; 28.08278
Zhamanshin Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 14.0 900 ± 100 48°24′0″N 60°58′0″E / 48.40000°N 60.96667°E / 48.40000; 60.96667

1 Ma to 10 Ma

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Elgygytgyn, 18 km (11 mi)
Bosumtwi, 10 km (6.2 mi)

From between 1 and 10 million years ago, and with a diameter of 5 km or more. If uncertainties regarding its age are resolved, then the largest in the last 10 million years would be the 52-kilometre (32 mi) Karakul crater which is listed in EID with an age of less than 5 Ma, or the Pliocene. The large but apparently craterless Eltanin impact (2.5 Ma) into the Pacific Ocean has been suggested as contributing to the glaciations and cooling during the Pliocene.[15]

Name Location Country Diameter
(km)
Age
(Million years)
Coordinates
Bosumtwi Ashanti Ghana 0010 ;01.1 6°30′N 1°25′W / 6.500°N 1.417°W / 6.500; -1.417
Elgygytgyn Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Russia 0018 ;03.5 67°30′N 172°00′E / 67.500°N 172.000°E / 67.500; 172.000
Bigach Kazakhstan Kazakhstan 0008 ;05 48°34′N 82°1′E / 48.567°N 82.017°E / 48.567; 82.017
Karla Tatarstan Russia 0010 ;05 54°55′N 48°2′E / 54.917°N 48.033°E / 54.917; 48.033
Karakul Pamir Mountains Tajikistan 0052 < 5 ?[16][17] 39°1′N 73°27′E / 39.017°N 73.450°E / 39.017; 73.450 (Kara-Kul)
Eltanin impact Southern Ocean SW of Chile none 2.5 57°47′S 90°47′W / 57.783°S 90.783°W / -57.783; -90.783

10 Ma or more

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Craters with diameter 20 km (12 mi) or more are all older than 10 Ma, except possibly Karakul, 52 km (32 mi), whose age is uncertain.

There are more than forty craters of such size. The largest two within the last hundred million years have been linked to two extinction events: Chicxulub for the Cretaceous–Paleogene and the Popigai impact for the Eocene–Oligocene extinction event.[18]

Sudbury Basin, 130 km (81 mi)
Chicxulub crater, 150 km (93 mi)
Popigai impact structure, 100 km (62 mi)
Manicouagan impact structure, 100 km (62 mi)
Acraman crater, 85 to 90 km (53 to 56 mi)
Charlevoix impact structure, 54 km (34 mi)
Nördlinger Ries, 24 km (15 mi)
Name Location Country Diameter (km) Age (million years) Coordinates
Vredefort Free State South Africa 160 2023 ± 4 27°0′S 27°30′E / 27.000°S 27.500°E / -27.000; 27.500 (Vredefort)
Chicxulub Yucatán Mexico 150 66.051 ± 0.031 21°20′N 89°30′W / 21.333°N 89.500°W / 21.333; -89.500 (Chicxulub)
Sudbury Ontario Canada 130 1849 46°36′N 81°11′W / 46.600°N 81.183°W / 46.600; -81.183 (Sudbury)
Popigai Siberia Russia 100 35.7±0.2 71°39′N 111°11′E / 71.650°N 111.183°E / 71.650; 111.183 (Popigai)
Manicouagan Quebec Canada 100 215.56 ± 0.05 51°23′N 68°42′W / 51.383°N 68.700°W / 51.383; -68.700 (Manicouagan)
Acraman South Australia Australia 90 580 32°1′S 135°27′E / 32.017°S 135.450°E / -32.017; 135.450 (Acraman)
Morokweng Kalahari Desert South Africa 70 146.06 ± 0.16 26°28′S 23°32′E / 26.467°S 23.533°E / -26.467; 23.533 (Morokweng)
Kara Nenetsia Russia 65 70.3 69°6′N 64°9′E / 69.100°N 64.150°E / 69.100; 64.150 (Kara)
Beaverhead Idaho and Montana United States 60 600 44°15′N 114°0′W / 44.250°N 114.000°W / 44.250; -114.000 (Beaverhead)
Tookoonooka Queensland Australia 55 133–112 27°7′S 142°50′E / 27.117°S 142.833°E / -27.117; 142.833 (Tookoonooka)
Charlevoix Quebec Canada 54 342 47°32′N 70°18′W / 47.533°N 70.300°W / 47.533; -70.300 (Charlevoix)
Siljan Ring Dalarna Sweden 52 377 61°2′N 14°52′E / 61.033°N 14.867°E / 61.033; 14.867 (Siljan)
Karakul Pamir Mountains Tajikistan 52 5? 25? 39°1′N 73°27′E / 39.017°N 73.450°E / 39.017; 73.450 (Kara-Kul)
Montagnais Nova Scotia Canada 45 50.5 42°53′N 64°13′W / 42.883°N 64.217°W / 42.883; -64.217 (Montagnais)
Araguainha Central Brazil Brazil 40 244.4 16°47′S 52°59′W / 16.783°S 52.983°W / -16.783; -52.983 (Araguainha)
Chesapeake Bay Virginia United States 40 34.86 ± 0.23 37°17′N 76°1′W / 37.283°N 76.017°W / 37.283; -76.017 (Chesapeake Bay)
Mjølnir Barents Sea Norway 40 142 73°48′N 29°40′E / 73.800°N 29.667°E / 73.800; 29.667 (Mjølnir)
Puchezh-Katunki Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Russia 40 195.9 ± 1.0 56°58′N 43°43′E / 56.967°N 43.717°E / 56.967; 43.717 (Puchezh-Katunki)
Saint Martin Manitoba Canada 40 227.8 ± 1.1 51°47′N 98°32′W / 51.783°N 98.533°W / 51.783; -98.533 (Saint Martin)
Woodleigh Western Australia Australia 40 364 26°3′S 114°40′E / 26.050°S 114.667°E / -26.050; 114.667 (Woodleigh)
Carswell Saskatchewan Canada 39 115 58°27′N 109°30′W / 58.450°N 109.500°W / 58.450; -109.500 (Carswell)
Clearwater West Quebec Canada 36 290 56°13′N 74°30′W / 56.217°N 74.500°W / 56.217; -74.500 (Clearwater West)
Manson Iowa United States 35 74 42°35′N 94°33′W / 42.583°N 94.550°W / 42.583; -94.550 (Manson)
Hiawatha Greenland Denmark 31 57.99 ± 0.54 78°50′N 67°18′W / 78.833°N 67.300°W / 78.833; -67.300
Slate Islands Ontario Canada 30 450 48°40′N 87°0′W / 48.667°N 87.000°W / 48.667; -87.000 (Slate Islands)
Yarrabubba Western Australia Australia 30 2229 27°10′S 118°50′E / 27.167°S 118.833°E / -27.167; 118.833 (Yarrabubba)
Keurusselkä Western Finland Finland 30 1500–1400 62°8′N 24°36′E / 62.133°N 24.600°E / 62.133; 24.600 (Keurusselkä)
Shoemaker Western Australia Australia 30 1630? 25°52′S 120°53′E / 25.867°S 120.883°E / -25.867; 120.883 (Shoemaker)
Mistastin Newfoundland and Labrador Canada 28 36.4 55°53′N 63°18′W / 55.883°N 63.300°W / 55.883; -63.300 (Mistastin)
Clearwater East Quebec Canada 26 465 56°4′N 74°6′W / 56.067°N 74.100°W / 56.067; -74.100 (Clearwater East)
Kamensk Southern Federal District Russia 25 49 48°21′N 40°30′E / 48.350°N 40.500°E / 48.350; 40.500 (Kamensk)
Steen River Alberta Canada 25 91 59°30′N 117°38′W / 59.500°N 117.633°W / 59.500; -117.633 (Steen River)
Strangways Northern Territory Australia 25 646 15°12′S 133°35′E / 15.200°S 133.583°E / -15.200; 133.583 (Strangways)
Tunnunik Northwest Territories Canada 25 450–430 72°28′N 113°58′W / 72.467°N 113.967°W / 72.467; -113.967 (Tunuunik)
Boltysh Kirovohrad Oblast Ukraine 24 65.17 48°54′N 32°15′E / 48.900°N 32.250°E / 48.900; 32.250 (Boltysh)
Nördlinger Ries Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg Germany 24 14.808 ± 0.038 48°53′N 10°34′E / 48.883°N 10.567°E / 48.883; 10.567 (Nördlinger Ries)
Presqu'île Quebec Canada 24 less than 500 49°43′N 74°48′W / 49.717°N 74.800°W / 49.717; -74.800 (Presqu'ile)
Haughton Nunavut Canada 23 39 75°23′N 89°40′W / 75.383°N 89.667°W / 75.383; -89.667 (Haughton)
Lappajärvi Western Finland Finland 23 77.85 ± 0.78 63°12′N 23°42′E / 63.200°N 23.700°E / 63.200; 23.700 (Lappajärvi)
Rochechouart France France 23 206.92 ± 0.32[19] 45°49′N 0°47′E / 45.817°N 0.783°E / 45.817; 0.783 (Rochechouart)
Gosses Bluff Northern Territory Australia 22 142.5 23°49′S 132°18′E / 23.817°S 132.300°E / -23.817; 132.300 (Gosses Bluff)
Amelia Creek Northern Territory Australia 20 1660–600 20°55′S 134°50′E / 20.917°S 134.833°E / -20.917; 134.833 (Amelia Creek)
Logancha Siberia Russia 20 40 65°31′N 95°56′E / 65.517°N 95.933°E / 65.517; 95.933 (Logancha)
Obolon' Poltava Oblast Ukraine 20 169 49°35′N 32°55′E / 49.583°N 32.917°E / 49.583; 32.917 (Obolon')
Dhala[20] Madhya Pradesh India 11[20] 2100-1700 25°18′N 78°8′E / 25.300°N 78.133°E / 25.300; 78.133 (Dhala)
Nadir Crater Guinea Plateau Guinea 8.5 66.051 ± 0.031 9°23′N 17°4′W / 9.383°N 17.067°W / 9.383; -17.067 (Nadir)

Impact structures by continent

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As of 2022, the Earth Impact Database (EID) contains 190 confirmed impact structures.[1] The table below is arranged by the continent's percentage of the Earth's land area, and where Asian and Russian structures are grouped together per EID convention. The global distribution of known impact structures apparently shows a surprising asymmetry,[21] with the small but well-funded European continent having a large percentage of confirmed impact structures. It is suggested this situation is an artifact, highlighting the importance of intensifying research in less studied areas like Antarctica, South America and elsewhere.[21]

Links in the column "Continent" will give a list of craters for that continent.

Continent Continent's %
of Earth's
land area
Continent's %
of the 190
known impact structures
Number
of impact structures
Asia and Russia 30% 16% 31
Africa 20% 11% 20
North America 16% 32% 60
South America 12% 6% 11
Antarctica 9% 0% 0
Europe 7% 22% 41
Australia 6% 14% 27
Total 100% 100% 190

See also

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Further reading

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  • Flamini, Enrico; Di Martino, Mario; Coletta, Alessandro, eds. (2019). Encyclopedic Atlas of Terrestrial Impact Craters. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-05449-6.

Notes

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  1. ^ As of 2021, the list has yet to be updated.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Earth Impact Database". University of New Brunswick. Archived from the original on 2013-07-08. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  2. ^ a b c Bland, Phil A.; de Souza Filho, C. R.; Timothy Jull, A. J.; Kelley, Simon P.; Hough, Robert Michael; Artemieva, N. A.; Pierazzo, E.; Coniglio, J.; Pinotti, Lucio; Evers, V.; Kearsley, Anton; (2002); "A possible tektite strewn field in the Argentinian Pampa", Science, volume 296, issue 5570, pp. 1109–12
  3. ^ a b "Rio Cuarto". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  4. ^ a b Schultz, Peter H.; Lianza, Ruben E.; (1992) "Recent grazing impacts on the Earth recorded in the Rio Cuarto crater field, Argentina", Nature 355, pp. 234–37 (16 January 1992)
  5. ^ Haas, Ain; Peekna, Andres; Walker, Robert E. "Echoes of Ancient Cataclysms in the Baltic Sea" (PDF). Electronic Journal of Folklore. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  6. ^ Benítez, Giménez; López, Alejandro M.; Mammana, Luis A. "Meteorites of Campo del Cielo: Impact on the indian culture".
  7. ^ a b c Bobrowsky, Peter T.; Rickman, Hans (2007). Comet/asteroid impacts and human society: an interdisciplinary approach. Springer. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-3-540-32709-7.
  8. ^ Hamacher, Duane W.; Goldsmith, John. "Aboriginal oral traditions of Australian impact craters" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  9. ^ Stankowski, Wojciech; Raukas, Anto; Bluszcz, Andrzej; Fedorowicz, Stanisław. "Luminescence dating of the Morasko (Poland), Kaali, Ilumetsa, and Tsõõrikmäe (Estonia) meteorite craters" (PDF).
  10. ^ Cione, Alberto L.; et al. (2002). "Putative Meteoritic Craters in Río Cuarto (Central Argentina) Interpreted as Eolian Structures". Earth, Moon, and Planets. 91 (1): 9–24. Bibcode:2002EM&P...91....9C. doi:10.1023/A:1021209417252. S2CID 122467947.
  11. ^ Essay "Impact Cratering on Earth", based on: Grieve, Richard A. F. (1990). "Impact cratering on the Earth". Scientific American. 262 (4): 66–73. Bibcode:1990SciAm.262d..66G. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0490-66.
  12. ^ Povenmire, Harold; Liu, W.; Xianlin, Luo; (1999) "Australasian tektites found in Guangxi Province, China", in Proceedings of the 30th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston, March 1999
  13. ^ Glass, Billy P.; Pizzuto, James E.; (1994) "Geographic variation in Australasian microtektite concentrations: Implications concerning the location and size of the source crater", Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 99, no. E9, 19075–81, September 1994
  14. ^ "Agoudal". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  15. ^ University of New South Wales (19 September 2012). "Did a Pacific Ocean meteor trigger the Ice Age?". Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Kara-Kul". Earth Impact Database. Planetary and Space Science Centre University of New Brunswick Fredericton. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  17. ^ Gurov, Eugene P.; Gurova, H. P.; Rakitskaya, R. B.; Yamnichenko, A. Yu. (1993). "The Karakul depression in Pamirs – the first impact structure in central Asia" (PDF). Lunar and Planetary Science. XXIV: 591–92. Bibcode:1993LPI....24..591G.
  18. ^ "Russia's Popigai Meteor Crash Linked to Mass Extinction". Live Science. 13 June 2014.
  19. ^ Cohen, Benjamin E.; Mark, Darren F.; Lee, Martin R.; Simpson, Sarah L. (2017-08-01). "A new high-precision 40Ar/39Ar age for the Rochechouart impact structure: At least 5 Ma older than the Triassic–Jurassic boundary". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 52 (8): 1600–11. Bibcode:2017M&PS...52.1600C. doi:10.1111/maps.12880. hdl:10023/10787. ISSN 1945-5100.
  20. ^ a b "Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Dhala". www.lpi.usra.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
  21. ^ a b Prezzi, Claudia B.; Orgeira, María Julia; Acevedo, Rogelio D.; Ponce, Juan Federico; Martinez, Oscar; Rabassa, Jorge O.; Corbella, Hugo; Vásquez, Carlos; González-Guillot, Mauricio; Subías, Ignacio; (2011); "Geophysical characterization of two circular structures at Bajada del Diablo (Patagonia, Argentina): Indication of impact origin", Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, vol. 192, pp. 21–34
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