This article appears to contradict itself on the sizes of craters.January 2018) ( |
This list of impact craters on Earth contains a selection of the 190 confirmed craters given in the Earth Impact Database.[1] 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.
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 thousands (ka) or millions (Ma) of years.
Less than ten thousand years old, and with a diameter of 0.1 km (100 meters) or more. The EID lists only 7 or 8 such craters, and the largest in the last 100,000 years (100 ka) is the 4.5 km 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. 2000 BC) during the Iron Age may have influenced Estonian and Finnish mythology,[5] the Campo del Cielo (c. 2000 BC) could be in the legends of some Native American tribes,[6][7] while Henbury (c. 2200 BC) has figured in Australian Aboriginal oral traditions.[8]
Name | Location | Country | Diameter (approx. in km) |
Age (thousand years) |
Date | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wabar | Rub' al Khali desert | Saudi Arabia | 0.1 | 0.2 | ~1800 AD | [ ⚑ ] 21°30′N 50°28′E / 21.5°N 50.467°E |
Kaali | Saaremaa | Estonia | 0.1 | 4.0 | 1500 BC | [ ⚑ ] 58°24′N 22°40′E / 58.4°N 22.667°E |
Campo del Cielo | Chaco | Argentina | 0.1[7] | 4.0 | 2000 BC | [ ⚑ ] 27°38′S 61°42′W / 27.633°S 61.7°W |
Henbury | Northern Territory | Australia | 0.2 | 4.2 | 2200 BC | [ ⚑ ] 24°34′S 133°8′E / 24.567°S 133.133°E |
Morasko | Poznań | Poland | 0.1 | 5.0[9] | 3000 BC | [ ⚑ ] 52°29′N 16°54′E / 52.483°N 16.9°E |
Boxhole | Northern Territory | Australia | 0.2 | 5.4 | 3400 BC | [ ⚑ ] 22°37′S 135°12′E / 22.617°S 135.2°E |
Macha | Sakha Republic | Russia | 0.3 | 7.3 | 5300 BC | [ ⚑ ] 60°6′N 117°35′E / 60.1°N 117.583°E |
Rio Cuarto (disputed) | Córdoba Province | Argentina | 4.5 | <10?[2][4] | <8000 BC | [ ⚑ ] 32°52.7′S 64°13.4′W / 32.8783°S 64.2233°W |
For the Rio Cuarto craters, 2002 research suggests they may actually be aeolian structures.[10] The EID gives a size of about 50 meters for Campo del Cielo, but other sources quote 100 meters.[7]
From between 10 thousand years to 1 million years ago, and with a diameter of 1 km or more. 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.[11]
However, the currently unknown source of the enormous Australasian strewnfield (c. 780 ka) could be a crater about 100 km across.[12][13]
Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (thousand years) | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tenoumer | Sahara Desert | Mauritania | .019 1.9
|
.021 21
|
[ ⚑ ] 22°55′5″N 10°24′27″W / 22.91806°N 10.4075°W |
Meteor Crater | Arizona | United States | .012 1.2
|
.049 49
|
[ ⚑ ] 35°2′N 111°1′W / 35.033°N 111.017°W |
Xiuyan | Xiuyan | China | .018 1.8
|
.050 50
|
[ ⚑ ] 40°21′N 123°27′E / 40.35°N 123.45°E |
Lonar | Maharashtra | India | .018 1.8
|
.052 52
|
[ ⚑ ] 19°58′N 76°31′E / 19.967°N 76.517°E |
Agoudal[14] | Atlas Mountains | Morocco | .030 3.0
|
.105 105
|
[ ⚑ ] 31°59′N 5°30′W / 31.983°N 5.5°W |
Tswaing | Pretoria Saltpan | South Africa | .011 1.1
|
.220 220
|
[ ⚑ ] 25°24′32″S 28°4′58″E / 25.40889°S 28.08278°E |
Zhamanshin | Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | .140 14.0
|
.900 900 ± 100
|
[ ⚑ ] 48°24′N 60°58′E / 48.4°N 60.967°E |
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.[15]
Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (million years) | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bosumtwi | Ashanti | Ghana | .00105 10
|
.0011 1.1
|
[ ⚑ ] 6°30.3′N 1°24.5′W / 6.505°N 1.4083°W |
Elgygytgyn | Chukotka Autonomous Okrug | Russia | .0018 18
|
.0035 3.5
|
[ ⚑ ] 67°30′N 172°00′E / 67.5°N 172°E |
Bigach | Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan | .0008 8
|
.0005 5.0
|
[ ⚑ ] 48°34′N 82°1′E / 48.567°N 82.017°E |
Karla | Tatarstan | Russia | .00100 10
|
.0005 5.0
|
[ ⚑ ] 54°55′N 48°2′E / 54.917°N 48.033°E |
Karakul | Pamir Mountains | Tajikistan | .0052 52
|
.005 <5? | [ ⚑ ] 39°1′N 73°27′E / 39.017°N 73.45°E |
Craters with a diameter of 20 km or more are all older than 10 Ma, with the exception of Karakul whose age is uncertain. 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.[18]
Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (million years) | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vredefort | Free State | South Africa | .01600 160
|
.20230 2023
|
[ ⚑ ] 27°0′S 27°30′E / 27°S 27.5°E |
Chicxulub | Yucatán | Mexico | .01500 150
|
.00650 66
|
[ ⚑ ] 21°20′N 89°30′W / 21.333°N 89.5°W |
Sudbury | Ontario | Canada | .01300 130
|
.18490 1849
|
[ ⚑ ] 46°36′N 81°11′W / 46.6°N 81.183°W |
Popigai | Siberia | Russia | .01000 100
|
.00350 35
|
[ ⚑ ] 71°39′N 111°11′E / 71.65°N 111.183°E |
Manicouagan | Quebec | Canada | .01000 100
|
.02150 215
|
[ ⚑ ] 51°23′N 68°42′W / 51.383°N 68.7°W |
Acraman | South Australia | Australia | .00900 90
|
.05800 580
|
[ ⚑ ] 32°1′S 135°27′E / 32.017°S 135.45°E |
Morokweng | Kalahari Desert | South Africa | .00700 70
|
.01450 145
|
[ ⚑ ] 26°28′S 23°32′E / 26.467°S 23.533°E |
Kara | Nenetsia | Russia | .0065 65
|
.00703 70
|
[ ⚑ ] 69°6′N 64°9′E / 69.1°N 64.15°E |
Beaverhead | Idaho and Montana | United States | .00600 60
|
.06000 600
|
[ ⚑ ] 44°15′N 114°0′W / 44.25°N 114°W |
Tookoonooka | Queensland | Australia | .00550 55
|
.01120 112-133
|
[ ⚑ ] 27°7′S 142°50′E / 27.117°S 142.833°E |
Charlevoix | Quebec | Canada | .00540 54
|
.03420 342
|
[ ⚑ ] 47°32′N 70°18′W / 47.533°N 70.3°W |
Siljan Ring | Dalarna | Sweden | .00520 52
|
.03770 377
|
[ ⚑ ] 61°2′N 14°52′E / 61.033°N 14.867°E |
Karakul | Pamir Mountains | Tajikistan | .00520 52
|
.00050 5?, 25?
|
[ ⚑ ] 39°1′N 73°27′E / 39.017°N 73.45°E |
Montagnais | Nova Scotia | Canada | .00450 45
|
.00505 50.5
|
[ ⚑ ] 42°53′N 64°13′W / 42.883°N 64.217°W |
Araguainha | Central Brazil | Brazil | .00400 40
|
.02444 244.4
|
[ ⚑ ] 16°47′S 52°59′W / 16.783°S 52.983°W |
Chesapeake Bay | Virginia | United States | .00400 40
|
.00350 35
|
[ ⚑ ] 37°17′N 76°1′W / 37.283°N 76.017°W |
Mjølnir | Barents Sea | Norway | .00400 40
|
.01420 142
|
[ ⚑ ] 73°48′N 29°40′E / 73.8°N 29.667°E |
Puchezh-Katunki | Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | Russia | .00400 40
|
.01670 167
|
[ ⚑ ] 56°58′N 43°43′E / 56.967°N 43.717°E |
Saint Martin | Manitoba | Canada | .00400 40
|
.02200 227
|
[ ⚑ ] 51°47′N 98°32′W / 51.783°N 98.533°W |
Woodleigh | Western Australia | Australia | .00400 40
|
.03640 364
|
[ ⚑ ] 26°3′S 114°40′E / 26.05°S 114.667°E |
Carswell | Saskatchewan | Canada | .00390 39
|
.01150 115
|
[ ⚑ ] 58°27′N 109°30′W / 58.45°N 109.5°W |
Clearwater West | Quebec | Canada | .00360 36
|
.02900 290
|
[ ⚑ ] 56°13′N 74°30′W / 56.217°N 74.5°W |
Manson | Iowa | United States | .00350 35
|
.00740 74
|
[ ⚑ ] 42°35′N 94°33′W / 42.583°N 94.55°W |
Slate Islands | Ontario | Canada | .00300 30
|
.04500 450
|
[ ⚑ ] 48°40′N 87°0′W / 48.667°N 87°W |
Yarrabubba | Western Australia | Australia | .00300 30
|
.1130 1130-2600
|
[ ⚑ ] 27°10′S 118°50′E / 27.167°S 118.833°E |
Keurusselkä | Western Finland | Finland | .00300 30
|
.14000 1400-1500
|
[ ⚑ ] 62°8′N 24°36′E / 62.133°N 24.6°E |
Shoemaker | Western Australia | Australia | .00300 30
|
.16300 1630?
|
[ ⚑ ] 25°52′S 120°53′E / 25.867°S 120.883°E |
Mistastin | Newfoundland and Labrador | Canada | .00280 28
|
.00364 36.4
|
[ ⚑ ] 55°53′N 63°18′W / 55.883°N 63.3°W |
Clearwater East | Quebec | Canada | .00260 26
|
.02900 290
|
[ ⚑ ] 56°04′N 74°06′W / 56.067°N 74.1°W |
Kamensk | Southern Federal District | Russia | .00250 25
|
.00490 49
|
[ ⚑ ] 48°21′N 40°30′E / 48.35°N 40.5°E |
Steen River | Alberta | Canada | .00250 25
|
.00910 91
|
[ ⚑ ] 59°30′N 117°38′W / 59.5°N 117.633°W |
Strangways | Northern Territory | Australia | .00250 25
|
.06460 646
|
[ ⚑ ] 15°12′S 133°35′E / 15.2°S 133.583°E |
Tunnunik | Northwest Territories | Canada | .00250 25
|
.01300 130-450
|
[ ⚑ ] 72°28′N 113°58′W / 72.467°N 113.967°W |
Boltysh | Kirovohrad Oblast | Ukraine | .00240 24
|
.00652 65.17
|
[ ⚑ ] 48°54′N 32°15′E / 48.9°N 32.25°E |
Nördlinger Ries | Bavaria | Germany | .00240 24
|
.00143 14.3-14.5
|
[ ⚑ ] 48°53′N 10°34′E / 48.883°N 10.567°E |
Presqu'île | Quebec | Canada | .00240 24
|
.05000 less than 500
|
[ ⚑ ] 49°43′N 74°48′W / 49.717°N 74.8°W |
Haughton | Nunavut | Canada | .00230 23
|
.00390 39
|
[ ⚑ ] 75°23′N 89°40′W / 75.383°N 89.667°W |
Lappajärvi | Western Finland | Finland | .00230 23
|
.00733 76.2
|
[ ⚑ ] 63°12′N 23°42′E / 63.2°N 23.7°E |
Rochechouart | France | France | .00230 23
|
.02010 206.92 ± 0.32 | [ ⚑ ] 45°49′27″N 0°46′54″E / 45.82417°N 0.78167°E |
Gosses Bluff | Northern Territory | Australia | .00220 22
|
.01425 142.5
|
[ ⚑ ] 23°49′15″S 132°18′28″E / 23.82083°S 132.30778°E |
Amelia Creek | Northern Territory | Australia | .00200 20
|
.06000 600-1660
|
[ ⚑ ] 20°55′S 134°50′E / 20.917°S 134.833°E |
Logancha | Siberia | Russia | .00200 20
|
.00400 40
|
[ ⚑ ] 65°31′N 95°56′E / 65.517°N 95.933°E |
Obolon' | Poltava Oblast | Ukraine | .00200 20
|
.01690 169
|
[ ⚑ ] 49°35′N 32°55′E / 49.583°N 32.917°E |
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.[20] The sortable table has been arranged by diameter.
Name | Location | Country | Diameter (km) | Age (million years) | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mistassini-Otish impact crater[21] | Quebec | Canada | .600 600
|
2.1 2100
|
[ ⚑ ] 50°00′N 71°00′W / 50°N 71°W |
Australian impact structure | Northern Territory | Australia | .600 600
|
.545 545
|
|
Shiva crater | offshore of India | India | .500 500
|
.065 65
|
|
Wilkes Land crater | Wilkes Land | Antarctica | .480 480-500
|
.250 250-500
|
|
Nastapoka arc | Nunavut/Quebec | Canada | .450 450
|
unknown | [ ⚑ ] 57°00′N 78°50′W / 57°N 78.833°W |
Czech Crater | Central Europe | Czech Republic | 300-500 | 2000 | [ ⚑ ] 49°28′N 14°24′E / 49.467°N 14.4°E |
Ishim impact structure[22] | Akmola Region | Kazakhstan | .300 300
|
.460 460-430 | [ ⚑ ] 52°0′N 69°0′E / 52°N 69°E |
Bedout | offshore of Western Australia | Australia | .250 250
|
.250 250
|
|
Falkland (Malvinas) Plateau anomaly[24][25][26] | offshore of South America | Falkland Islands | .250 250
|
.250 250 (uncertain, estimated to be Late Palaeozoic)
|
[ ⚑ ] 51°0′S 62°0′W / 51°S 62°W |
East Warburton Basin | Southern Australia | Australia | .200 200+
|
.300 300-360
|
(As of 2017), the Earth Impact Database (EID) contains 190 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,[27] 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 Antarctica, South America and elsewhere.[27]
Continent | Continent's % of Earth's land area |
Continent's % of the 190 known craters |
Number of craters |
---|---|---|---|
Asia & 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 |