Chesapeake Bay Impact

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The Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater was formed approximately 35 million years ago during the late Eocene epoch. A large asteroid or comet, estimated to be 2-3 miles wide, struck the shallow shelf of the western Atlantic Ocean. This impact created a complex crater, about 85 km in diameter, which is now buried beneath Chesapeake Bay. The crater's structure includes a central uplift surrounded by concentric valleys and ridges, with a deep rubble bed of impact breccia. The impact had significant geological and environmental effects. It triggered a massive tsunami and ejected molten glass (tektites) over a vast area. The crater's formation influenced local hydrogeology, altering groundwater flow and creating a briny water reservoir. The impact also shaped the Chesapeake Bay's current geography, contributing to its unique sedimentary features. Despite being buried, the crater remains one of the best-preserved impact structures globally, offering insights into Earth's geological history.