Wetumpka crater, Impact crater in Elmore County, Alabama, US
Wetumpka crater is a circular depression in Elmore County shaped by a collision from space, marked by a ring of elevated ground. The raised rim stands distinctly above the flat river plains that surround it.
A large asteroid hit the region roughly 85 million years ago when the area lay beneath shallow ocean waters. This impact created the depression that remains visible today.
The site takes its name from the nearby town of Wetumpka. Visitors can explore how the local terrain has been shaped by this ancient event and see the landscape as it appears today.
The best way to explore this location is by driving along US Highway 231 or Alabama Highway 14, which pass through the area and provide views of the structure. Look for the informational marker along Highway 231 that explains the geological story.
Core samples from the crater contain rare elements like iridium, cobalt, nickel, and chromium that come from beyond Earth. These traces provide the scientific proof that this formation genuinely came from a space impact.
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