List of impact craters on Earth
This list of impact craters on Earth contains a selection of the 188 confirmed craters (as of 2016)[1] as given in the Earth Impact Database. To keep the lists manageable, only the largest craters within a time period are included. The complete list is divided into separate articles by geographical region.
Contents
Confirmed impact craters listed by size and age
These features were caused by the collision of large meteorites or comets 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 kiloannum (ka) or megaannum (Ma).
Young craters (10 ka or less)
Less than ten thousand years old, and with a diameter of 0.1 km (100 meters) or more. The EID lists only 6-7 such craters, so the largest in the last ten thousand years is the 300-meter Macha crater in Russia. The Kaali impacts (c. 2000 BC) during the Iron Age may have influenced Estonian and Finnish mythology,[2] the Campo del Cielo (c. 2000 BC) could be in the legends of some Native American tribes,[3][4] while Henbury (c. 2200 BC) has figured in Australian aboriginal oral traditions.[5]
| Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (thousand years) |
Date | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabar | Rub' al Khali desert | Saudi Arabia | ~0.1 | 0.2 | ~1800 AD | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Kaali | Saaremaa | Estonia | ~0.1 | 4.0 | 2000 BC | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Campo del Cielo | Chaco | Argentina | ~0.1[4] | 4.0 | 2000 BC | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Henbury | Northern Territory | Australia | ~0.2 | 4.2 | 2200 BC | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Morasko | Stare Miasto | Poland | ~0.1 | 5.0[6] | 3000 BC | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Boxhole | Northern Territory | Australia | ~0.2 | 5.4 | 3400 BC | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Macha | Sakha Republic | Russia | ~0.3 | 7.3 | 5300 BC | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
The EID gives a size of about 50 meters for Campo del Cielo, but other sources quote 100 meters.[4]
Large craters (10 ka to 1 Ma)
From between 10 thousand years to 1 million years ago, and with a diameter of 1 km or more. For comparison, the famous Meteor Crater (or Barringer) is roughly 1 km. As of the present, the EID lists only 7 such craters. The largest in the last one million years is the 14-km Zhamanshin crater in Kazakhstan and has been described as being capable of producing a nuclear-like winter.[7]
However, if the source of the enormous Australasian strewnfield (c. 800 ka) will be found, it is suggested it could be a crater about 100 km across.[8][9]
| Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (thousand years) | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhamanshin | Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | 14.0 | 900 ± 100 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Rio Cuarto | Córdoba Province | Argentina | 4.5 | 100 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Tenoumer | Sahara Desert | Mauritania | 1.9 | 21 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Lonar | Maharashtra | India | 1.8 | 52 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Xiuyan | Xiuyan | China | 1.8 | 50 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Meteor Crater | Arizona | United States | 1.2 | 49 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Tswaing | Pretoria Saltpan | South Africa | 1.1 | 220 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Larger craters (1 Ma to 10 Ma)
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-km 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.[10]
| Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (million years) | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karakul | Pamir Mountains | Tajikistan | 52 | <5?[11][12] | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Elgygytgyn | Chukotka Autonomous Okrug | Russia | 18 | 3.5 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Bosumtwi | Ashanti | Ghana | 10 | 1.1 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Karla | Tatarstan | Russia | 10 | 5.0 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Bigach | Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | 8 | 5.0 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Largest craters (10 Ma or more)
Craters with a diameter of 20 km or more are all older than 10 Ma, with the exception of Karakul which seems to have an uncertain age. There are more than forty such craters. 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.[13]
| Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (million years) | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vredefort | Free State | South Africa | 300 | 2023 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Sudbury | Ontario | Canada | 250 | 1849 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Chicxulub | Yucatán | Mexico | 180 | 66 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Popigai | Siberia | Russia | 100 | 35 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Manicouagan | Quebec | Canada | 100 | 215 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Acraman | South Australia | Australia | 90 | 580 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Morokweng | Kalahari Desert | South Africa | 70 | 145 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Kara | Nenetsia | Russia | 65 | 70 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Beaverhead | Idaho and Montana | United States | 60 | 600 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Tookoonooka | Queensland | Australia | 55 | 112-133 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Charlevoix | Quebec | Canada | 54 | 342 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Siljan Ring | Dalarna | Sweden | 52 | 377 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Karakul | Pamir Mountains | Tajikistan | 52 | 5?, 25? | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Montagnais | Nova Scotia | Canada | 45 | 50.5 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Araguainha | Central Brazil | Brazil | 40 | 244.4 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Chesapeake Bay | Virginia | United States | 40 | 35 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Mjølnir | Barents Sea | Norway | 40 | 142 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Puchezh-Katunki | Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | Russia | 40 | 167 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Saint Martin | Manitoba | Canada | 40 | 227 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Woodleigh | Western Australia | Australia | 40 | 364 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Carswell | Saskatchewan | Canada | 39 | 115 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Clearwater West | Quebec | Canada | 36 | 290 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Manson | Iowa | United States | 35 | 74 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Slate Islands | Ontario | Canada | 30 | 450 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Yarrabubba | Western Australia | Australia | 30 | 1130-2600 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Keurusselkä | Western Finland | Finland | 30 | 1400-1500 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Shoemaker | Western Australia | Australia | 30 | 1630? | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Mistastin | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada | 28 | 36.4 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Clearwater East | Quebec | Canada | 26 | 290 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Kamensk | Southern Federal District | Russia | 25 | 49 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Steen River | Alberta | Canada | 25 | 91 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Strangways | Northern Territory | Australia | 25 | 646 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Tunnunik | Northwest Territories | Canada | 25 | 130-450 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Boltysh | Kirovohrad Oblast | Ukraine | 24 | 65.17 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Nördlinger Ries | Bavaria | Germany | 24 | 14.3-14.5 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Presqu'île | Quebec | Canada | 24 | less than 500 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Haughton | Nunavut | Canada | 23 | 39 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Lappajärvi | Western Finland | Finland | 23 | 73.3 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Rochechouart | France | France | 23 | 201 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Gosses Bluff | Northern Territory | Australia | 22 | 142.5 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Amelia Creek | Northern Territory | Australia | 20 | 600-1660 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Logancha | Siberia | Russia | 20 | 40 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Obolon' | Poltava Oblast | Ukraine | 20 | 169 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Large unconfirmed craters
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The largest unconfirmed craters 200 km or more are significant not only for their size, but also for the possible coeval events associated with them. For example, the Wilkes Land crater has been connected to the massive Permian–Triassic extinction event.[14]
| Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (million years) | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian impact structure | Northern Territory | Australia | 600 | 545 | |
| Shiva crater | offshore of India | India | 500 | 65 | |
| Wilkes Land crater | Wilkes Land | Antarctica | 480-500 | 250-500 | |
| Nastapoka arc | Nunavut/Quebec | Canada | 450 | unknown | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.| |
| Ishim impact structure[15] | Akmola Region | Kazakhstan | 300 | 460-430[16] | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Bedout | offshore of Western Australia | Australia | 250 | 250 | |
| East Warburton Basin | Southern Australia | Australia | 200+ | 300-360 |
All craters listed alphabetically
As of April 2015, the Earth Impact Database (EID) contains 188 confirmed craters. The table below is arranged by the continent's percentage of the Earth's land area, and where Asian and Russian craters are grouped together per EID convention. The global distribution of known impact structures apparently shows a surprising asymmetry,[17] with the small but well-funded European continent having a large percentage of confirmed craters. It is suggested this situation is an artifact, highlighting the importance of intensifying research in less studied areas like South America and elsewhere.[17]
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| Continent | Continent's % of Earth's land area |
Continent's % of known craters |
Number of craters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia & Russia | 30% | 16% | 30 |
| Africa | 20% | 10% | 19 |
| 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% | 188 |
- List of impact craters in Asia and Russia
- List of impact craters in Africa
- List of impact craters in North America
- List of impact craters in South America
- List of impact craters in Antarctica
- List of impact craters in Europe
- List of impact craters in Australia
See also
- Bolides
- Earth Impact Database
- Extinction event
- Impact events
- Impact Field Studies Group
- List of largest volcanic eruptions
- Traces of Catastrophe book from Lunar and Planetary Institute - comprehensive reference on impact crater science
References
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- Impact Database (formerly Suspected Earth Impact Sites list) maintained by David Rajmon for Impact Field Studies Group, USA
- Impact Meteor Crater Viewer Google Maps Page with Locations of Meteor Craters around the world
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Essay "Impact Cratering on Earth", based on: R.A.F. Grieve, 1990, Impact cratering on the Earth, Scientific American, v. 262, 66-73.
- ↑ Povenmire H., Liu W. and Xianlin I. (1999) "Australasian tektites found in Guangxi Province, China,"] 30th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston, March 1999.
- ↑ Glass B.P. and Pizzuto J.E. (1994) "Geographic variation in Australasian microtektite concentrations: Implications concerning the location and size of the source crater," J of Geophysical Research, vol 99, no E9, 19075-19081, Sept 1994.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Zeylik B. S.; Seytmuratova E. Yu, 1974: A meteorite-impact structure in central Kazakhstan and its magmatic-ore controlling role. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 1, Pages 167-170
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Prezzi, C.; Orgeira, M.; Acevedo, R. et al (2011). Geophysical characterization of two circular structures at Bajada del Diablo (Patagonia, Argentina): Indication of impact origin, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 192, p. 21-34.
