Deep Bay crater facts for kids
Landsat image, approximately 23.5 km wide, centered on the structure
|
|
| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | confirmed |
| Diameter | 13 kilometres (8 mi) |
| Age | 99 ± 4 million years old (Cretaceous) |
| Exposed | No |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 56°24′N 102°59′W / 56.400°N 102.983°W |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
 Deep Bay crater
Location in Saskatchewan
|
|
Deep Bay is a special part of Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. It's known for being super round and very deep. This bay is the deepest spot in all of Saskatchewan!
This unique bay was actually formed by a huge space rock hitting Earth. This impact created a giant hole, known as an impact crater. The crater is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) wide. Scientists believe this happened around 99 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs.
Contents
What is the Deep Bay Crater?
Deep Bay is a large, circular bay located in the southwestern part of Reindeer Lake. It stands out because most of the lake is quite shallow and has an uneven shape. But Deep Bay is perfectly round and incredibly deep, reaching about 220 meters (720 feet) down.
How Deep Bay Formed
This amazing circular shape and depth are clues that Deep Bay is an impact crater. Millions of years ago, a large asteroid or comet crashed into this area. The force of the impact dug out a huge hole in the ground. Over time, this hole filled with water, creating the bay we see today.
When Did the Impact Happen?
Scientists have studied rocks from the crater to figure out its age. They estimate the impact happened about 99 million years ago. This was during the Cretaceous period, a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Imagine a giant space rock hitting the planet when dinosaurs were alive!
Deep Bay's Size and Location
The crater itself is quite large, measuring about 13 kilometers (8 miles) across. It's located in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. You can find it near the southern end of Reindeer Lake, which is a big lake stretching across Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Other Nearby Craters
Did you know there's another impact crater not too far from Deep Bay? About 90 kilometers (56 miles) to the west, you can find the Gow crater. This one is even older than Deep Bay, dating back to the Triassic period. It's cool to think about how many times space rocks have hit our planet!
