Geopark Ries, Meteorite crater geopark in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The Ries Geopark spans 1,749 square kilometers across two German states, featuring a 25-kilometer-wide crater basin with a rim reaching 150 meters in height.
A one-kilometer asteroid struck this location 15 million years ago, creating Europe's largest preserved impact crater and eliminating all life within 100 kilometers.
The geopark includes 53 municipalities across five districts, where residents maintain distinct dialects that reflect the regional diversity of the area.
Information centers throughout the park provide geological education programs, while marked trails lead visitors to viewpoints overlooking the crater landscape.
The site contains Suevite, a specific impact rock with dark gray melt particles that scientists use as primary evidence for meteorite impacts worldwide.
Location: Alerheim
Website: https://geopark-ries.de
GPS coordinates: 48.88830,10.53580
Latest update: November 21, 2025 10:48
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