Bow City crater facts for kids
 Bow City crater
Location in Canada
Bow City crater
Location in Alberta
|
|
| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | Potential |
| Diameter | ~8 kilometers (5.0 mi) |
| Age | ~73 Ma Late Cretaceous |
| Exposed | No |
| Location | |
| Location | Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin |
| Coordinates | 50°26′N 112°24′W / 50.433°N 112.400°W |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Municipality | Bow City, Alberta |
The Bow City crater is a fascinating place in southern Alberta, Canada. It's thought to be a giant hole made by a meteorite hitting Earth a very long time ago. Scientists are still studying it to be sure!
Contents
What is the Bow City Crater?
The Bow City crater is a possible meteorite impact crater. This means it's a huge bowl-shaped hole. It was likely formed when a space rock, called a meteoroid, crashed into Earth. This crash would have happened with incredible force.
How Big is This Crater?
The Bow City crater is about 8-kilometre-wide (5.0 mi). That's roughly the distance you might walk in an hour or two! It's a very large structure hidden deep underground.
When Did It Form?
Scientists believe this crater formed around 70 to 73 million years ago. This time period is known as the Late Cretaceous period. This was a time when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth! Imagine a giant space rock hitting the ground while dinosaurs were alive.
How Was the Crater Discovered?
You can't see the Bow City crater from the surface. It's buried deep underground. It lies beneath about one kilometer (or 0.6 miles) of soil and rock. That's like stacking over 300 school buses on top of each other!
Finding Hidden Clues
The crater was discovered in 2012. A scientist named Wei Xie from the University of Alberta found it. He used special methods to look deep into the Earth. These methods are called petrochemical seismic studies.
What are Seismic Studies?
Seismic studies use sound waves to create pictures of what's underground. Scientists send sound waves into the Earth. These waves bounce off different layers of rock. By listening to the echoes, they can map out structures. This is how they found the hidden shape of the Bow City crater. It looked like a giant bowl, which is a key sign of an impact crater.
Why is the Bow City Crater Important?
Studying impact craters helps us learn about Earth's history. They show us how our planet has changed over millions of years. They also teach us about space and the objects that travel through it. Even though it's hidden, the Bow City crater is a valuable clue to our planet's past.
