[Rockhounds] Crater Three Times Larger Than the Grand Canyon Found in the U.S.

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

Buried beneath the Earth’s surface, a massive crater has been uncovered
that dwarfs even the Grand Canyon. Formed by an ancient asteroid impact,
this geological marvel holds secrets about Earth’s history, including
catastrophic events that reshaped the planet. What makes this discovery
even more fascinating is the revolutionary method used to uncover its
story, offering a glimpse into a dramatic chapter of Earth’s past.

Hidden beneath the East Coast of the United States lies the Chesapeake Bay
impact crater, a colossal structure formed 35 million years ago when a
massive asteroid struck the region. Spanning 25 miles in diameter, this
crater is three times the size of the Grand Canyon, making it the largest
known impact site in the U.S. and the 15th largest on Earth.

The asteroid’s collision unleashed an unimaginable force, causing fires,
earthquakes, molten glass rain, and a tsunami that reshaped the ancient
landscape. Debris from the impact was scattered over 4 million square
miles, forming what researchers call the North American tektite strewn field,
a layer of natural glass and shocked minerals created during the event.

Discovered in the 1990s through scientific drilling, the crater remained an
enigma until a recent study employed advanced techniques to date its
formation and analyze the materials ejected during the impact. Researchers
from Arizona State University (ASU) and international collaborators
published their findings in *Meteoritics & Planetary Science*, shedding new
light on the crater’s significance and the global effects of asteroid
impacts.

https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/01/crater-larger-than-grand-canyon-found-u-s/