Impact craters

Meteor Crater, Arizona

Asteroids and comets have struck the Earth throughout its history. The most famous strike is the one believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, but there have been many others and it is predicted there will be more in the future.

Because water and wind constantly erode the landscape and our planet's active tectonic plate system recycles the crust, the record of many impacts is lost. But there are still a number of places on Earth where impact craters can be seen.

Image: Meteor Crater, Arizona. This crater was formed by an asteroid impact about 50,000 years ago (credit: David Parker/SPL)


Meteor Crater, Arizona Impact craters

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Impact craters





Impact craters are not to be confused with landforms that in some cases appear similar, including calderas and ring dikes.

Read more at Wikipedia
