Barringerkrateret

Barringerkrateret, also known as Meteor Crater, is a well-preserved meteorite impact structure located near Winslow, Arizona, United States. It is approximately 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) in diameter and 170 meters (560 feet) deep. The crater was formed about 50,000 years ago by the impact of a large iron-nickel meteorite, estimated to have been about 50 meters (160 feet) in diameter.

The impact was powerful enough to create a significant explosion, ejecting an estimated 175 million tons of rock. The raised rim surrounding the crater stands about 45 meters (150 feet) above the surrounding plains. The crater is named after Daniel Barringer, an American businessman and geologist who was the first to seriously propose that it was created by a meteorite impact, rather than volcanic activity. He began mining operations in the crater, believing it contained valuable ore.

While Barringer was correct about the origin of the crater, his mining efforts were ultimately unsuccessful due to the difficulty in extracting the meteorite fragments, which had largely vaporized or shattered upon impact. Today, Barringerkrateret is a privately owned tourist attraction and a significant site for scientific study of impact events. It provides a rare and relatively undisturbed example of a terrestrial impact crater, offering valuable insights into the geology and history of our planet and the solar system. The site is a testament to the dynamic processes that have shaped Earth over millions of years.