Impact Sites

Steven Dutch, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
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Not everything that makes an arc on a map or air photo is an impact crater. Click the link to see some examples of places that are repeatedly put forth as possible impact sites despite a complete lack of impact evidence.

If you didn't know better, you'd suspect meteors were targeting Australia, North America and Europe. It's not that there are so many craters there, it's that there are so many geologists there, plus countries affluent enough to do detailed geologic mapping. A complete map would have the whole earth covered to the same density. To show you how hard it can be, the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, on the doorstep of Washington D.C., was not discovered until the 1990's, because it is completely buried.

Then there are the oceans. Only a handful of marine impacts have been identified. Impacts capable of making 5-10 km craters on land will merely dig a hole in the ocean and stir up the bottom sediment. Bigger impacts might crater the ocean floor, but water rushing back into the crater will carry debris and fill in the hole. Plus, our knowledge of the ocean floors is still pretty sketchy.

Impacts in ice caps will soon be erased as ice flows into the crater. Impacts big enough to penetrate the ice sheet will make a crater, but ice will soon flow in and cover it. Were there impacts on the Pleistocene ice caps of North America, Europe, and Siberia? Probably. Have any been identified? Not yet.

Acraman South Australia, Australia

Lat. -32.02; Long: 135.45; Diam. (km): 160; Age (My): 570 ±

Ames Oklahoma, USA

Lat. 36.25; Long: -98.17; Diam. (km): 16; Age (My): 470 ± 30

Amguid Algeria

Lat. 26.08; Long: 4.38; Diam. (km): 0.45 Age (My): 0.1 ±

Aouelloul Mauritania

Lat. 20.25; Long: -12.68; Diam. (km): 0.39; Age (My): 3.1 ± 0.3

Araguainha Dome Mato Grosso, Brazil

Lat. -16.77; Long: -52.98; Diam. (km): 40; Age (My): 249 ± 19

Avak Alaska, USA

Lat. 71.25; Long: -156.63; Diam. (km): 12; Age (My): 100 ± 5

Azuara Spain

Lat. 41.17; Long: -0.92; Diam. (km): 30; Age (My): 130 ±

B.P. Structure Libya

Lat. 25.32; Long: 24.33; Diam. (km): 2.8 Age (My): 120 ±

Barringer Arizona, USA

Lat. 35.03; Long: -111.02; Diam. (km):1.186; Age (My):0.049 ±

Beaverhead Montana, USA

Lat. 44.60; Long: -113.00; Diam. (km): 60 Age (My): 600 ±

Bedout Continental shelf, Australia

Permian

Bee Bluff Texas, USA

Lat. 29.03; Long: -99.85; Diam. (km): 2.4 Age (My): 40 ±

Beyenchime-Salaat Russia

Lat. 71.83; Long: 123.50; Diam. (km): 8 Age (My): 65 ±

Bigach Kazakhstan

Lat. 48.50; Long: 82.00; Diam. (km): 7; Age (My): 6 ± 3

Boltysh Ukraine

Lat. 48.75; Long: 32.17; Diam. (km): 25 Age (My): 88 ± 3

Bosumtwi Ghana

Lat. 6.53; Long: -1.42; Diam. (km): 10.5 Age (My): 1.3 ± 0.2

Boxhole Northern Territory, Australia

Lat. -22.62; Long: 135.20; Diam. (km): 0.17; Age (My): 0.03 ±

Brent Ontario, Canada

Lat. 46.08; Long: -78.48; Diam. (km): 3.8; Age (My): 450 ± 3

Campo Del Cielo Argentina

Lat. -27.63; Long: -61.70; Diam. (km): 0.05; Age (My): 0 ±

Carswell Saskatchewan, Canada

Lat. 58.45; Long: -109.50; Diam. (km): 39; Age (My): 115 ± 10

CharlevoixQuebec, Canada

Lat. 47.53; Long: -70.30; Diam. (km): 54 Age (My): 357 ± 15

Chesapeake Bay Maryland, USA

Chicxulub Yucatan, Mexico

Lat. 21.33; Long: -89.50; Diam. (km): 300 Age (My):64.98 ± 0.05

Chiyli Kazakhstan

Lat. 49.17; Long: 57.85; Diam. (km): 5.5; Age (My): 46 ± 7

Clearwater Lake E Quebec, Canada

Lat. 56.08; Long: -74.12; Diam. (km): 22; Age (My): 290 ± 20

Clearwater Lake W Quebec, Canada

Lat. 56.22; Long: -74.50; Diam. (km): 32; Age (My): 290 ± 20

Connolly Basin Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -23.53; Long: 124.75; Diam. (km): 9; Age (My): 60 ±

Crooked Creek Missouri, USA

Lat. 37.83; Long: -91.38 Diam. (km): 7; Age (My): 320 ± 80

Dalgaranga Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -27.75; Long: 117.08; Diam. (km):0.021; Age (My): 0.03 ±

Decaturville Missouri, USA

Lat. 37.90; Long: -92.72 Diam. (km): 6; Age (My): 300 ±

Deep Bay Saskatchewan, Canada

Lat. 56.40; Long: -102.98; Diam. (km): 13; Age (My): 100 ± 50

Dellen Sweden

Lat. 61.92; Long: 16.65; Diam. (km): 15; Age (My): 110 ± 2.7

Des Plaines Illinois, USA

Lat. 42.05; Long: -87.87 Diam. (km): 8; Age (My): 280 ±

Dobele Latvia

Lat. 56.58; Long: 23.25; Diam. (km): 4.5; Age (My): 300 ± 35

Eagle Butte Alberta, Canada

Lat. 49.70; Long: -110.58 Diam. (km): 19; Age (My): 65 ±

El Gygytgyn Russia

Lat. 67.50; Long: 172.08; Diam. (km): 18; Age (My): 3.5 ± 0.5

Eltanin Bellingshausen Sea

Lat. -57.50; Long: -090  Diam. (km): unknown (known from debris); Age (My): 2.15 ± 0.07

Flynn Creek Tennessee, USA

Lat. 36.28; Long: -85.67 Diam. (km): 3.55; Age (My): 360 ± 20

Garnos Norway

Lat. 60.65; Long: 9.00; Diam. (km): 5; Age (My): 500 ± 10

Glasford Illinois, USA

Lat. 40.60; Long: -89.78; Diam. (km): 4; Age (My): 430 ±

Glover Bluff Wisconsin, USA

Lat. 43.97; Long: -89.53 Diam. (km): 3; Age (My): 500 ±

Goat Paddock Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -18.33; Long: 126.67; Diam. (km): 5.1; Age (My): 50 ±

Gosses Bluff Northern Territory, Australia

Lat. -23.83; Long: 132.32; Diam. (km): 22; Age (My):142.5 ± 0.5

Gow LakeSaskatchewan, Canada

Lat. 56.45; Long: -104.48; Diam. (km): 4 Age (My): 250 ±

Gusev Russia

Lat. 48.35; Long: 40.23; Diam. (km): 3.5; Age (My): 65 ±

Haughton Northwest Territories, Canada

Lat. 75.37; Long: -89.68; Diam. (km): 20.5 Age (My): 21.5 ± 1

Haviland Kansas, USA

Lat. 37.58; Long: -99.17; Diam. (km):0.015; Age (My): 0 ±

Henbury Northern Territory, Australia

Lat. -24.58; Long: 133.15; Diam. (km):0.157; Age (My): 0.01 +/

Holleford Ontario, Canada

Lat. 44.47; Long: -76.63; Diam. (km): 2.35; Age (My): 550 ± 100

Ile Rouleau Quebec, Canada

Lat. 50.68; Long: -73.88; Diam. (km): 4; Age (My): 300 ±

Ilumetsa Estonia

Lat. 57.97; Long: 25.42; Diam. (km): 0.08 Age (My): 0 ±

Ilyinets Ukraine

Lat. 49.10; Long: 29.20; Diam. (km): 4.5; Age (My): 395 ± 5

Janisjarvi Russia

Lat. 61.97; Long: 30.92; Diam. (km): 14 Age (My): 698 ± 22

Kaalijarvi Estonia

Lat. 58.40; Long: 22.67; Diam. (km): 0.11; Age (My): 0 ± 0

Kaluga Russia

Lat. 54.50; Long: 36.25; Diam. (km): 15; Age (My): 380 ± 10

Kamensk Russia

Lat. 48.33; Long: 40.25; Diam. (km): 25; Age (My): 65 ± 2

Kara Russia

Lat. 69.08; Long: 64.30; Diam. (km): 65; Age (My): 73 ± 3

Kara-Kul Russia

Lat. 39.02; Long: 73.45; Diam. (km): 52 Age (My): 25 ±

Kardla Estonia

Lat. 56.98; Long: 22.67; Diam. (km): 4; Age (My): 455 ±

Karla Russia

Lat. 54.90; Long: 48.00; Diam. (km): 12; Age (My): 10 ±

Kelly West Northern Territory, Australia

Lat. -19.93; Long: 133.95; Diam. (km): 10; Age (My): 550 ±

Kentland Indiana, USA

Lat. 40.75; Long: -87.40; Diam. (km): 13; Age (My): 300 ±

Kursk Russia

Lat. 51.67; Long: 36.00; Diam. (km): 5.5; Age (My): 250 ± 80

Lac Couture Quebec, Canada

Lat. 60.13; Long: -75.33 Diam. (km): 8; Age (My): 430 ± 25

Lac La Moinerie Quebec, Canada

Lat. 57.43; Long: -66.62; Diam. (km): 8; Age (My): 400 ± 50

Lappajarvi Finland

Lat. 63.15; Long: 23.70; Diam. (km): 17 Age (My): 77.3 ± 0.4

Lawn Hill Queensland, Australia

Lat. -18.67; Long: 138.65; Diam. (km): 18; Age (My): 515 ±

Liverpool Northern Territory, Australia

Lat. -12.40; Long: 134.05; Diam. (km): 1.6; Age (My): 150 ± 70

Lockne Sweden

Lat. 63.00; Long: 14.80; Diam. (km): 7; Age (My): 540 ± 10

Logancha Russia

Lat. 65.50; Long: 95.80; Diam. (km): 20 Age (My): 25 ± 20

Logoisk Belarus

Lat. 54.20; Long: 27.80; Diam. (km): 17; Age (My): 40 ± 5

Lonar Madhya Pradesh, India

Lat. 19.98; Long: 76.52; Diam. (km): 1.83; Age (My): 0.52 ± 0.1

Macha Russia

Lat. 59.98; Long: 118.00; Diam. (km): 0.3; Age (My): 0.01 ±

Manicouagan Quebec, Canada

Lat. 51.38; Long: -68.70 Diam. (km): 100; Age (My): 212 ± 1

Manson Iowa, USA

Lat. 42.58; Long: -94.52; Diam. (km): 35; Age (My): 65.7 ± 1

Marquez Texas, USA

Lat. 31.28; Long: -96.30; Diam. (km): 22; Age (My): 58 ± 2

Middlesboro Kentucky, USA

Lat. 36.62; Long: -83.73 Diam. (km): 6; Age (My): 300 ±

Mien Sweden

Lat. 56.42; Long: 14.87; Diam. (km): 9; Age (My): 121 ± 2.3

Misarai Lithuania

Lat. 54.00; Long: 23.90; Diam. (km): 5; Age (My): 395 ± 145

Mishina Gora Russia

Lat. 58.67; Long: 28.00; Diam. (km): 4; Age (My): 360 ±

Mistastin Labrador, Canada

Lat. 55.88; Long: -63.30 Diam. (km): 28; Age (My): 38 ± 4

Mjolnir Barents Sea

Lat. 73.66; Long: 29.66 Diam. (km): 20; Age (My): 142±2.6

Montagnais Offshore Nova Scotia, Canada

Lat. 42.88; Long: -64.22; Diam. (km): 45; Age (My): 50.5 ± 0.76

Monturaqui Chile

Lat. -23.93; Long: -68.28; Diam. (km): 0.46; Age (My): 1 ±

Morasko Poland

Lat. 52.48; Long: 16.90; Diam. (km): 0.1; Age (My): 0.01 ±

New Quebec Quebec, Canada

Lat. 61.28; Long: -73.67 Diam. (km): 3.44; Age (My): 1.4 ± 0.1

Nicholson Lake Northwest Territories, Canada

Lat. 62.67; Long: -102.68; Diam. (km): 12.5; Age (My): 400 ±

Oasis Libya

Lat. 24.58; Long: 24.40; Diam. (km): 11.5; Age (My): 120 ±

Obolon Ukraine

Lat. 49.50; Long: 32.92; Diam. (km): 15; Age (My): 215 ± 25

Odessa Texas, USA

Lat. 31.75; Long: -102.48; Diam. (km):0.168; Age (My): 0.05 ±

Ouarkziz Algeria

Lat. 29.00; Long: -7.55; Diam. (km): 3.5 Age (My): 70 ±

Piccaninny Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -17.53; Long: 128.42; Diam. (km): 7; Age (My): 360 ±

Pilot Lake Northwest Territories, Canada

Lat. 60.28; Long: -111.02; Diam. (km): 5.8; Age (My): 445 ± 2

Popigai Russia

Lat. 71.50; Long: 111.00; Diam. (km): 100; Age (My): 35 ± 5

Presque Ile Quebec, Canada

Lat. 49.72; Long: -78.80; Diam. (km): 12; Age (My): 500 ±

Pretoria Salt Pan South Africa

Lat. -25.40; Long: 28.08; Diam. (km): 1.13; Age (My): 0.2 ±

Puchezh-Katunki Russia

Lat. 57.10; Long: 43.58; Diam. (km): 80 Age (My): 220 ± 10

Ragozinka Russia

Lat. 58.30; Long: 62.00; Diam. (km): 9 Age (My): 55 ± 5

Red Wing Creek North Dakota, USA

Lat. 47.60; Long: -103.55; Diam. (km): 9; Age (My): 200 ± 25

Riachao Ring Maranhao, Brazil

Lat. -7.72; Long: -46.65; Diam. (km): 4.5; Age (My): 200 ±

Ries Bavaria, Germany

Lat. 48.88; Long: 10.62; Diam. (km): 24; Age (My): 14.8 ± 1

Rio Cuarto Argentina

Lat. -30.87; Long: -64.23; Diam. (km): 4.5; Age (My): 0.1 ±

Rochechouart France

Lat. 45.83; Long: 0.93; Diam. (km): 23 Age (My): 186 ± 8

Roter Kamm Namibia

Lat. -27.77; Long: 16.30; Diam. (km): 2.5; Age (My): 5 ± 0.3

Rotmistrovka Ukraine

Lat. 49.00; Long: 32.00; Diam. (km): 2.7; Age (My): 140 ± 20

Saaksjarvi Finland

Lat. 61.40; Long: 22.40; Diam. (km): 5 Age (My): 514 ± 12

Saarijarvi Finland

Saint Martin Manitoba, Canada

Lat. 51.78; Long: -98.53 Diam. (km): 40; Age (My): 220 ± 32

Serpent Mound Ohio, USA

Lat. 39.03; Long: -83.40; Diam. (km): 6.4; Age (My): 320 ±

Serra Da Cangalha Brazil

Lat. -8.08; Long: -46.87; Diam. (km): 12 Age (My): 300 ±

Shunak Kazakhstan

Lat. 47.20; Long: 72.70; Diam. (km): 3.1 Age (My): 12 ± 5

Sierra Madera Texas, USA

Lat. 30.60; Long: -102.92 Diam. (km): 13; Age (My): 100 ±

Sikhote AlinRussia

Lat. 46.12; Long: 134.67; Diam. (km):0.027; Age (My): 0 ±

Siljan Sweden

Lat. 61.03; Long: 14.87; Diam. (km): 55; Age (My): 368 ± 1.1

Silverpit North Sea

Lat

Slate Islands Ontario, Canada

Lat. 48.67; Long: -87.00 Diam. (km): 30; Age (My): 350 ±

Sobolev Russia

Lat. 46.30; Long: 138.87; Diam. (km):0.053; Age (My): 0 ±

Soderfjarden Finland

Lat. 63.00; Long: 21.58; Diam. (km): 6; Age (My): 550 ±

Spider Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -16.73; Long: 126.08; Diam. (km): 13 Age (My): 570 ±

Steen River Alberta, Canada

Lat. 59.52; Long: -117.62 Diam. (km): 25; Age (My): 95 ± 7

Steinheim Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Lat. 48.67; Long: 10.07; Diam. (km): 3.8 Age (My): 14.8 ± 0.7

Strangways Northern Territory, Australia

Lat. -15.20; Long: 133.58; Diam. (km): 25; Age (My): 470 ±

Sudbury Ontario, Canada

Lat. 46.60; Long: -81.18; Diam. (km): 200; Age (My): 1850 ± 3

Tabun-Khara-Obo Mongolia

Lat. 44.10; Long: 109.60; Diam. (km): 1.3 Age (My): 3 ±

Talemzane Algeria

Lat. 33.32; Long: 4.03; Diam. (km): 1.75 Age (My): 3 ±

Teague Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -25.87; Long: 120.88; Diam. (km): 30 Age (My): 1685 ± 5

Tenoumer Mauritania

Lat. 22.92; Long: -10.40; Diam. (km): 1.9; Age (My): 2.5 ± 0.5

Ternovka Ukraine

Lat. 48.02; Long: 33.08; Diam. (km): 12; Age (My): 280 ± 10

Tin Bider Algeria

Lat. 27.60; Long: 5.12; Diam. (km): 6; Age (My): 70 ±

Toms Canyon Offshore New Jersey, USA

Tookoonooka Queensland, Australia

Lat. -27.00; Long: 143.00; Diam. (km): 55; Age (My): 128 ± 5

Tvaren Sweden

Lat. 58.77; Long: 17.42; Diam. (km): 2; Age (My): 0 ±

Upheaval Dome Utah, USA

Lat. 38.43; Long: -109.90 Diam. (km): 5; Age (My): 65 ±

Ust-Kara Russia

Lat. 69.30; Long: 65.30; Diam. (km): 25; Age (My): 73 ± 3

Vargeao Dome Argentina

Lat. -26.83; Long: -52.12; Diam. (km): 12; Age (My): 70 ±

Veevers Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -22.97; Long: 125.37; Diam. (km): 0.08; Age (My): 1 ±

Vepriaj Lithuania

Lat. 55.10; Long: 24.60; Diam. (km): 8; Age (My): 160 ± 30

Vredefort South Africa

Lat. -27.00; Long: 27.50; Diam. (km): 140; Age (My): 1970 ± 100

Wabar Saudi Arabia

Lat. 21.50; Long: 50.47; Diam. (km):0.097 Age (My): 0.01 ±

Wanapitei Lake Ontario, Canada

Lat. 46.75; Long: -80.75; Diam. (km): 7.5; Age (My): 37 ± 2

Wells Creek Tennessee, USA

Lat. 36.38; Long: -87.67 Diam. (km): 14; Age (My): 200 ± 100

West Hawk Lake Manitoba, Canada

Lat. 49.77; Long: -95.18; Diam. (km): 3.15; Age (My): 100 ± 50

Wolf Creek Western Australia, Australia

Lat. -19.30; Long: 127.77; Diam. (km):0.875; Age (My): 0.3 ±

Zapadnaya Ukraine

Lat. 49.73; Long: 29.00; Diam. (km): 4; Age (My): 115 ± 10

Zeleny Gai Ukraine

Lat. 48.70; Long: 32.90; Diam. (km): 2.5; Age (My): 120 ± 20

Zhamanshin Kazakhstan

Lat. 48.40; Long: 60.97; Diam. (km): 13.5; Age (My): 0.9 ± 0.1

References

References for sites A-G
References for sites H-P
References for sites R-Z

Access Other Pages on Planets
Access Course Notes on Planetary Geology
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Created 14 April 1999, Last Update 14 September 2009

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