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meteorites

These Tranquil Canadian Islands Are Remnants of a Violent Space Rock Impact

Lake Superior's Slate Islands are home to what's likely the world's largest shatter cone, evidence of an explosive event 450 million years ago.
Demetria Dickinson September 20, 2022
Duckwater, Nevada

Meteorite Crater

Despite the name, it's unclear if this small depression in northern Nye County was actually caused by falling space debris.
Fallon, Nevada

Soda Lakes

Two craters, which probably erupted within the last 1,500 years and are now filled by alkaline lakes, represent Nevada's youngest known volcanic activity.
Permanently Closed
Wetumpka, Alabama

Wetumpka Impact Crater

One of almost 200 confirmed impact craters in the entire world, untouched for tens of millions of years.
Bangoua Kouni, Comoros

Lac Salé

Legend says this remote, “bottomless” lake was created by a curse.
meteorites

When Is a Crater Not a Crater?

There's no punchline, this massive geological structure in Greenland just probably isn't a crater.
Robin George Andrews March 19, 2021
dinosaurs

What a Buried Crater in Mexico Says About the Asteroid That Doomed the Dinosaurs

And why the scars left by meteoritic impacts tell us about life, the universe, and everything.
Luna Shyr June 8, 2020
In Amguel, Algeria

Amguid Crater

One of the best-preserved impact craters on the planet is located in the middle of the Sahara Desert.
South Kolan, Australia

Mystery Craters

The 25-million-year-old cavities have perplexed people for decades.
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe Shatter Cones

The shattered remnants of a meteor that struck Santa Fe more than a billion years ago.
Soshanguve, South Africa

Tswaing Meteorite Crater

An ancient impact crater on the outskirts of Pretoria.
Namatjira, Australia

Gosse Bluff

A spectacular impact crater in the rugged heart of Central Australia.
military history

This Century-Old Wartime Crater Is Still Visible From Space

The massive Lochnagar Crater, as seen from a satellite.
Jessica Leigh Hester November 12, 2018
space exploration

There's Now a Space Mountain Named for Octavia Butler

It's on Pluto's moon, Charon, which also boasts landscape features that honor Stanley Kubrick and Dorothy Gale.
Cara Giaimo April 12, 2018
Old Station, California

Painted Dunes

Sunset-colored dunes of volcanic ash make taking a poor photo impossible.
Rincon de Parangueo, Mexico

Rincón de Parangueo Crater

A dark tunnel leads to a striking white crater that seems to be from another planet.
science

A Giant Permafrost Crater Grows in Siberia

It's yet another canary in the climate coal mine.
Samir S. Patel May 2, 2017
Vila Franca Do Campo, Portugal

Islet of Vila Franca do Campo

A perfectly circular lake is formed by the crater of an ancient underwater volcano.