What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Located near Flagstaff, Arizona, Meteor Crater, also known as Barringer Crater, is a large meteorite impact crater. This remarkable natural phenomenon is one of the most well-preserved craters of its type on our planet, measuring around 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in diameter and about 170 m (560 ft) deep.
The Tenoumer Crater's distinctive geological feature in Mauritania's Sahara Desert is its dramatic nearly circular rim. Michael Dennig's photograph perfectly captures the crater's dimensions.
The Vredefort Crater in South Africa's Free State province is the biggest confirmed impact crater on Earth, measuring over 300 km (190 mi) in diameter. The image shows the Vredefort Dome, the central part of the crater.
Kaali refers to a group of nine meteorite crater lakes located in the village of Kaali on Saaremaa, an Estonian island. This cluster of lakes was formed around 1530-1450 BCE.
Situated in the southern part of the Northern Territory, the remarkable Gosses Bluff meteor crater has a diameter of 5 km (3 mi) and a rim height of 200 m (656 ft). Referred to as Tnorala by the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people, this location is considered a sacred place.
The Manicouagan Reservoir in central Quebec was created by a meteor impact 214 million years ago. René-Levasseur Island is the island in the center of the lake. The entire formation is commonly called "the eye of Quebec."
The Wolfe Creek Crater in Western Australia is a remarkably intact impact site. It measures approximately 875 m (2,871 ft) in diameter and has a depth of 60 m (200 ft) from rim to floor. This crater, which is less than 120,000 years old, is at the heart of the Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater National Park.
The Sudbury Basin in Ontario spans about 10–15 km (6.2–9.3 mi) and originated roughly 1.8 billion years ago. An image of the basin is displayed in NASA's globe software WorldWind.
The Popigai Crater, situated in Siberia, formed around 35 million years ago. The eastern side of the crater, spanning 100 km (62 mi) in diameter, is visible in the top left of the satellite image.
Lake Acraman in South Australia is a prominent feature of the Acraman Crater, formed approximately 590 million years ago from an asteroid impact. This satellite image captures the 40-km (25 mi) crater, with the lake residing at its heart.
Karakul is the designated name for the lake situated in a considerable 52-km (32 mi) impact crater located in the Tajik National Park. This formation, visible in this satellite image, originates from approximately 25 million years ago.
Around 35 million years ago, the Chesapeake Bay in America's eastern seaboard was formed by the sediment slumping over the debris of a meteor strike. The image shows a section of the impact structure located in Virginia.
Lake Bosumtwi is the sole natural lake in Ghana, nestled in an ancient impact crater situated southeast of Kumasi. The Ashanti people revere Bosumtwi as a sacred body of water.
The Morasko Meteorite Nature Reserve is located in the woods near Poznań. Visitors can explore seven craters, with the biggest one measuring approximately 100 m (328 ft) in diameter and reaching a depth of about 11 m (36 ft).
The Lonar Lake in Maharashtra state was created by a meteorite impact that took place approximately 35,000 to 50,000 years ago.
The Middlesboro Crater in Kentucky got its name from the town it now stands in. The crater is about 5 km (3 mi) wide and believed to be less than 300 million years old.
The Mistastin Crater was formed about 36 million years ago due to a powerful asteroid collision in Labrador, Canada. The image displays Mishta-minishtikᐡ, the lake's curved island, vividly.
The scenic Tswaing Crater is located northwest of Pretoria and is believed to be between 220,000 and 52,000 years old. Notably, archaeological evidence indicates that the crater was frequented by people from at least 100,000 years ago, as evidenced by stone tools from the Middle Stone Age.
The Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve in Australia's Northern Territory consists of at least 14 craters. These craters are the result of a meteorite that broke apart upon impact with the Earth's surface. The largest crater, which is a combination of two smaller craters, measures 217 m (733 ft) in length, 111 m (366 ft) in width, and 15 m (50 ft) in depth.
Lake El'gygytgyn is located within the Arctic Circle in north-east Siberia and formed approximately 3.6 million years ago from an asteroid impact crater.
The Araguainha impact structure is easily identifiable as a circular outline with a diameter of 40 km (25 mi), situated on the border of Mato Grosso and Goiás states. It is considered to be the biggest impact crater in South America.
The Nördlinger Ries is a significant impact crater located in western Bavaria and eastern Baden-Württemberg. It was used as a training site for the Apollo 14 astronauts. The photo displays the southern forested edge of the Nördlinger Ries.
The Haughton Crater, found in Nunavut's Devon Island, is believed to be approximately 39 million years old, resulting from an asteroid impact that created a 23 km (14 mi) wide crater.
Lake Lappajärvi, situated in Finland's South Ostrobothnia region, is a body of water that occupies the partially eroded meteorite impact crater of Lappajärvi. This impressive crater, which spans 23 kilometers (14 miles), serves as a reminder of an event that took place approximately 76 million years ago.
Located beneath the Yucatán Peninsula, the Chicxulub Crater is the aftereffect of a tremendous asteroid collision that occurred approximately 66 million years ago, leading to the extinction of dinosaurs. Featured in this NASA photo of the northwestern part of the peninsula, a faint curve of dark green highlights the remnants of the impact crater, which holds the position as the second largest globally.
In the year 1908, a meteorite penetrated the Earth's atmosphere, but instead of striking the ground, it detonated mid-air. This extraordinary event occurred near the Podkamennaya Tunguska river and resulted in a widespread devastation. Although no visible crater formed, the explosion caused the flattening of approximately 80 million trees, affecting a vast forested area spanning 2,150 square kilometers (830 square miles). Notable sources providing information regarding this incident include NASA, the National Park Service, Smithsonian Magazine, Geopark Ries, and EarthSky.
Sources: (NASA) (National Park Service) (Smithsonian Magazine) (Geopark Ries) (EarthSky)
See also: The secrets and mysteries of black holes
Researchers have determined the precise date when an asteroid could potentially impact Earth, carrying with it a power equivalent to that of 22 atomic bombs. This celestial object, named Bennu, approaches our planet every six years. However, scientists believe that September 24, 2182, could be the date when there is a real risk of collision between Earth and the asteroid.
Despite the potential date of the apocalyptic event being far off, NASA is currently engaged in intense efforts to deflect the asteroid Bennu and is in the final phase of its mission. Seven years ago, the American space agency launched a probe towards the asteroid with the goal of collecting samples, with the hope that the gathered information could help prevent a possible catastrophic encounter.
Asteroids have hit the Earth many times throughout the years. Check out the following gallery for some of the most meaningful impacts.
Like 22 atomic bombs: The asteroid that will hit the Earth is called Bennu
Many asteroids have already hit the earth
LIFESTYLE Universe
Researchers have determined the precise date when an asteroid could potentially impact Earth, carrying with it a power equivalent to that of 22 atomic bombs. This celestial object, named Bennu, approaches our planet every six years. However, scientists believe that September 24, 2182, could be the date when there is a real risk of collision between Earth and the asteroid.
Despite the potential date of the apocalyptic event being far off, NASA is currently engaged in intense efforts to deflect the asteroid Bennu and is in the final phase of its mission. Seven years ago, the American space agency launched a probe towards the asteroid with the goal of collecting samples, with the hope that the gathered information could help prevent a possible catastrophic encounter.
Asteroids have hit the Earth many times throughout the years. Check out the following gallery for some of the most meaningful impacts.