A recent story by National Geographic highlights how researchers used Google Earth to discover one of the newer craters on Earth; only a few thousand years old.
As Stefan at Ogle Earth notes, the findings of some researchers were recently published in the journal Science, they require a subscription. Fortunately, he was able to grab the coordinates of the crater so you can see it for yourself. Simply fly to 22º 01′ 06″ N 26º 05′ 15″ E or use this KML file
to take you there.Of course, there are hundreds of known craters all across the planet. One of Frank’s oldest posts showcase them, and you can download this KML file
to view them all in Google Earth.
What is the most interesting crater that you’ve found in Google Earth?
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
Meteor Crater,Arizona
The Vredefort crater in South Africa
Manicouagan Reservoir, Canada
I am surprised. How did the “Kamil Crater” survive weathering for nearly a thousand years in the midst of a desert. I live near large sand dunes and see them shifting by the day. How is any one sure that this is a meteoric crater? Can there be other craters?
The 40km-wide Richat structure in Mauritania. The fact that it’s neither impact nor volcanic “crater” doesn’t deter it from appearing fascinating: 21.124000° -11.401800°
Appears to be an impact crater. Interesting that the ejecta lines are still present in such detail after all this time. I would have guessed the age at closer to 100 years rather than thousands.
I have found a structure that looks very much like an impact crater. It’s in a desolate corner of China, close to the Mongolian border. I reported it to a Canadian “impact recording site”, but they said it needs further investigation.
Coordinates are 44.25° ; 114.25°
@Koos
That does look like an impact crater… good work!