Chesapeake Bay impact crater

Beneath the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay lies a buried meteorite crater formed about 35.5 million years ago when a bolide struck a shallow marine environment on North America’s eastern shore. The impact vaporized the object, shattered rock deep below the surface, triggered a massive tsunami, and spread ejecta across a wide region linked to the North American tektite field. As the crater collapsed, thick breccia accumulated and the structure was later buried by younger sediments. Recognized only in the late 20th century, this exceptionally well-preserved wet-target crater helped shape the modern bay and left the lower Chesapeake region vulnerable to groundwater contamination from deep salty brine.

Cheriton, Virginia · United States