Pantasma facts for kids

Pantasma is a region located in the northern part of Nicaragua. The name Pantasma comes from the Miskito language, where it means "small humans" or "flat head." Interestingly, the Spanish word Fantasma (meaning "ghost") also has similar roots, coming from the Greek word Phantasma.

The Valle de Pantasma, sometimes called the "Crater of Pantasma," is a large circular valley. It stretches over 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) wide in Nicaragua. The Rio Pantasma, a river that flows into the Rio Coco (also known as Rio Segovia), passes through this valley.

In the middle of the valley is the village of Las Praderas. This village is the main center for the community of Santa Maria de Pantasma. About 40,000 people live in this area, which is part of the Jinotega province. Even though it's a poor area, the valley has very fertile land. Farmers use it to grow crops like corn, grain, fruit, and coffee. They also raise cattle.

The town of Pantasma was the site of an important event during the civil war in Nicaragua. This war was fought between the Sandinista government and a rebel group called the Contras. On October 18, 1983, a Contra group launched a surprise attack on the town. They took over a military headquarters, blew up a place where ammunition was stored, robbed a state bank, and destroyed the police station, a school, and other government buildings. This attack resulted in the deaths of 47 defenders and residents. Even though the attack was a military success for the Contras, the Sandinista government called it a "massacre." They used it to show how cruel the rebels were.

Could Pantasma Be an Impact Crater?

Some scientists believe that the circular valley of Pantasma might have been formed by a large meteorite hitting the Earth. This impact would have happened a very long time ago, hitting the volcanic mountains in northern Nicaragua.

Evidence for an Impact

Several things make scientists think Pantasma could be a meteorite crater:

• Its perfectly circular shape.
• The way its floor is tilted, matching the mountain slope.
• Its seemingly random location, which is typical for impact craters.

A central raised area, often found in impact craters, might be missing or covered by dirt and rocks. Also, a clear ring of ejected material around the crater is hard to see in the rough landscape. The size and shape of the Pantasma crater are similar to Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana. Lake Bosumtwi is a 10-kilometer (about 6.2 miles) wide crater that formed about one million years ago.

Recent Discoveries and Dating

In 2011, scientists suggested that Central America has a "tektite strewn field" centered around Pantasma. Tektites are small, glassy objects that form when a meteorite hits the Earth. This strewn field might cover parts of Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, and southern Mexico.

A study in 2019 found more evidence that Pantasma was formed by an impact. This evidence included:

• Melted rock pieces called breccia.
• Impact glasses containing a rare mineral called lechatelierite.
• Another high-pressure mineral called coesite.
• Unusual amounts of chromium isotopes, which can come from space.

Scientists used a method called Argon dating on the impact glasses. They found that the crater is about 815,000 years old (plus or minus 11,000 years). This age matches the age of tektites found in Belize, which is about 530 kilometers (about 330 miles) away from Pantasma. Further measurements showed that the elements and isotopes in the Belize tektites match the material found at Pantasma. This strongly supports the idea of a shared impact origin.

Ongoing Research

In 2022, some scientists, including Koeberl, pointed out that while the Belize glasses' composition could fit an impact origin, the chemical evidence alone isn't completely certain. They said that a volcanic origin could also be possible based on chemistry. However, other features of the Belize glasses, like their very low water content, the presence of lechatelierite, and the lack of crystals, strongly suggest they were formed by a meteorite impact.

See also

In Spanish: Pantasma para niños