Ames crater, Impact crater in Major County, Oklahoma, United States.
Ames crater is an impact site roughly 16 kilometers across, buried beneath 2,700 meters of sedimentary layers near the town of Ames. The formation remains completely underground and invisible from the surface.
The structure formed roughly 470 million years ago during the Ordovician period when a meteor struck the Earth. The impact created a deep basin that gradually filled with sediment over time.
The Ames Astrobleme Museum presents exhibits about the geological formation through videos, graphs, and educational displays. Visitors can learn how the impact shaped the rock layers beneath the surface.
The site cannot be visited directly since the crater lies completely underground with no surface access for visitors. The nearby museum in town is the only way to learn about this geological location.
The formation was identified in 1991 through seismic patterns and turned out to be one of North America's most productive oil reservoirs. This discovery linked geological science with major energy resources.
Location: Oklahoma
GPS coordinates: 36.28444,-98.19389
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
Meteorite impact craters are scars on Earth's surface created when asteroids collided with our planet. These geological structures range from 110 meters to 300 kilometers in diameter and tell stories spanning millions of years. The collision created extreme heat and pressure, forging rare minerals...
Little Sahara State Park
67.6 km
Great Salt Plains Lake
51 km
Roman Nose State Park
44 km
Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
51.9 km
Gloss Mountain State Park
35.7 km
H. H. Champlin House
29.4 kmSod House
29.2 km
Gaslight Theatre
30.9 km
Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
31.1 km
Railroad Museum of Oklahoma
31 km
Midgley Museum
29.6 km
Ingersoll Tile Elevator
59.7 km
Waverley Historic District
29.5 km
Garfield County Courthouse
30.9 km
Chisholm Trail Museum
53.7 km
Enid Armory
31.8 km
Jackson School
34.7 km
Lamerton House
29.1 km
Clay Hall
33.4 km
Cherokee Friends Church
54.5 km
United States Post Office Watonga
52.8 km
Enid Masonic Temple
30.6 km
Blaine County Courthouse
52.5 km
Public Library of Enid and Garfield County
30.8 km
Governor Seay Mansion
53.6 km
Pond Creek Masonic Lodge No. 125
55.6 km
Alfalfa County Courthouse
54.4 km
89er Theatre
52.4 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes