Popigai impact structure

Popigai impact structure is a giant hole in the ground caused by a big boom, like an explosion in the earth’s crust. Imagine throwing a rock into a pond and seeing ripples spread out from where it landed. This is similar to what happened when a big rock or comet hit the earth’s surface around 35 million years ago in Siberia, Russia. The impact created a massive crater that is now known as the Popigai impact structure.

The crater measures about 100 kilometers in diameter, which is almost as big as the entire city of New York! Scientists believe that the impact caused a huge explosion that released a lot of energy, which melted rocks and formed unique rocks called suevite. These rocks have tiny glass particles in them, which were formed by the intense heat and pressure from the impact.

The Popigai impact structure is considered one of the best-preserved impact structures on earth, and it continues to fascinate scientists who want to learn more about how impact craters are formed and what they can tell us about the earth’s history.