Charlevoix crater, Impact crater in Quebec, Canada
Charlevoix crater is an impact structure spanning roughly 54 kilometers in diameter along the northern shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Its center is marked by Mont des Eboulements, which dominates the local landscape.
A meteorite collided with this region roughly 342 million years ago during the Carboniferous Period and created this geological structure. The impact brought about major changes to the landscape.
Scientists first identified the crater in 1965 when Jehan Rondot discovered specific rock formations called shatter cones during his geological mapping work.
The crater area is accessible from several points along Route 362, with higher elevations offering the clearest views of the circular formation. These elevated locations provide the best perspective of the geological structure.
The area contains one of eastern Canada's most active seismic zones, which has been continuously monitored since 1977. This ongoing earthquake activity demonstrates that the geological effects of the ancient impact remain measurable today.
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