Vredefort Crater
~2.02 billion years ago
Free State, South Africa
The largest and oldest verified impact crater on Earth, with an estimated diameter of 250-300 km. The asteroid was approximately 10-15 km in diameter and released energy equivalent to billions of atomic bombs, significantly altering Earth's geological and biological evolution.
Sudbury Basin
~1.85 billion years ago
Ontario, Canada
One of the largest impact structures on Earth, originally 200-250 km in diameter. The impact created rich nickel and copper deposits that became one of the world's most important mining regions. The event significantly contributed to the formation of Earth's early crust.
Chicxulub Impact
~66 million years ago
Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
The catastrophic asteroid impact that ended the Cretaceous period, causing the mass extinction of dinosaurs and 75% of all species. The 10-15 km wide asteroid created a 180 km crater and triggered global climate changes that reshaped life on Earth.