Steen River crater facts for kids
 Location in Canada
|
|
| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 25 km (16 mi) |
| Age | 91 ± 7 Ma Late Cretaceous |
| Exposed | No |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 59°30′N 117°38′W / 59.500°N 117.633°W |
| Country | Canada |
| State | Alberta |
| District | Mackenzie County |
The Steen River crater is a huge bowl-shaped mark left on Earth by a space rock. It is located in Alberta, Canada. This giant crater is about 25 km (16 mi) wide.
Scientists believe the Steen River crater was formed around 91 million years ago. This was during a time called the Cretaceous period.
What is the Steen River Crater?
The Steen River crater is an impact structure. This means it was created when a large object from space, like an asteroid or a comet, crashed into Earth. The crash would have been incredibly powerful.
Today, you cannot see the Steen River crater on the surface. It is completely hidden underground. Over millions of years, layers of soil and rock have covered it up.
How Do We Know It's There?
Even though we can't see it, scientists know the Steen River crater exists. It is buried under about 200 m (660 ft) of sediments. These are layers of sand, mud, and other materials that built up over time.
Scientists found the crater by drilling deep into the Earth. They studied the rocks and found evidence of a massive impact. The original crater was also partly worn away by erosion before it was buried.
A Look Back in Time: The Cretaceous Period
The Steen River crater formed about 91 million years ago. This was during the Late Cretaceous period. This time in Earth's history was very different from today.
The Cretaceous period was the last part of the "Age of Dinosaurs." Many famous dinosaurs, like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops, lived during this time. The Earth's continents were also in different places.
