Chesapeake Bay impact crater, Impact crater beneath Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, United States.
Chesapeake Bay is an impact crater in Virginia in the United States of America. The circular depression lies entirely below the ocean surface and measures roughly 53 miles (85 kilometers) across, with a depth reaching just under a mile (1.3 kilometers) into the bedrock.
A large space object struck this region roughly 35 million years ago during the late Eocene. The collision permanently altered the coastline and underground rock layers.
Scientists study core samples and geological evidence from the crater to understand the effects of major impacts on Earth's climate and ecosystems.
The museum and welcome center in Cape Charles presents exhibits about the formation and structure of the crater. A short walk to the local fishing pier offers additional display panels with geological explanations.
The collision distorted deep water layers and caused saltwater to seep into drinking wells. This disruption still influences water supply in several coastal communities across southeastern Virginia today.
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