Information
Landmark: Winslow Meteor CraterCity: Winslow
Country: USA Arizona
Continent: North America
Winslow Meteor Crater, Winslow, USA Arizona, North America
Overview
Somehow, Meteor Crater, often called the Barringer Crater, sits in northern Arizona about 20 miles west of Winslow, just below the hum of Interstate 40, furthermore it’s the best-preserved meteorite crater on the planet, a stark ring of rock that still speaks of the cosmic forces that once struck Earth.About 50,000 years ago, a nickel-iron meteorite roughly 160 feet across slammed into the high desert plains of present-day Arizona, kicking up a blast of dust and rock, alternatively the impact unleashed energy equal to over 10 million tons of TNT and carved a huge, bowl-shaped crater into the ground, its edges sharp with shattered rock.The crater spans about three-quarters of a mile across and plunges some 560 feet deep, with a rim rising roughly 150 feet above the flat plains, as well as formed around 50,000 years ago during the Pleistocene by a meteor hurtling at 26,000 miles per hour, it cuts a sharp, sunlit edge against the level horizon.Frankly, Thanks to the dry air, the crater still looks almost untouched, its rocky walls scarcely worn after thousands of years, what’s more visitor experience: First impressions matter.Observation Points & Trails: Step onto one of the outdoor decks and take in the sweeping view of the crater, its rim stretching against the sky, consequently when weather cooperates, short guided tours along the rim let you trace the crater’s rugged edge and learn how its walls and layers took shape, occasionally For safety and to protect the site, you can’t hike down into the crater-its rocky floor is strictly off-limits, subsequently two.At the Discovery Center & Museum, you can explore hands-on exhibits that bring the science of meteors, asteroids, and impact craters to life-like tracing your fingers over a model crater’s jagged rim, furthermore it features exhibits on Meteor Crater’s history, the layers of its rugged geology, planetary defense strategies, and the specialized tools scientists use to study impacts, sort of To be honest, It holds an actual fragment of the original meteorite, a massive chunk tipping the scales at over 1,400 pounds (635 kg), besides number three, loosely Back in the 1960s, NASA sent its astronauts here to prepare for the moon, walking across dusty ground that mimicked the lunar surface, then the rocky, crater-pocked ground looks almost like the Moon’s surface, so it’s perfect for running simulations.Believe it or not, The museum showcases artifacts and vivid displays that bring this chapter of space exploration to life-like a worn flight suit still smelling faintly of engine oil, after that number four, under certain circumstances If I’m being honest, In the theater, a towering screen plays a 10‑minute film titled *Impact: The Mystery of Meteor Crater*, pulling you into the story of the meteor strike and why it matters to science, not only that five.Gift shop and amenities include a well-stocked store filled with meteorite replicas, colorful educational toys, space memorabilia, and souvenirs you can hold in your hand, simultaneously the café’s right here, with a few tables inside and the smell of fresh coffee drifting over plates of snacks.The restrooms are spotless, and there’s plenty of parking just steps from the door, equally important meteor Crater holds a special venue in science-it was the first on Earth confirmed as the scar of a meteorite strike, a discovery Daniel Barringer nailed down in the early 1900s after years of sifting through its sun‑baked rocks.You know, Before he began his research, most people thought these craters came from volcanoes, like the obscure, jagged rims left after an eruption, then the crater sparked an entirely novel field of study-planetary impact science-which now shapes how we understand cratering on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and even dusty worlds far beyond.Meteor Crater belongs to the Barringer family, who run it through Meteor Crater Enterprises, greeting visitors at the windswept rim, meanwhile the site welcomes visitors every day, and the tiny admission fee helps pay for upkeep, staff, and the research that keeps its labs humming.It’s an easy drive from I-40, with crisp signs and smooth, well-kept roads guiding you straight to the visitor complex, consequently atmosphere & Visual Impact: Standing at the crater’s edge, you feel miniature beneath its eerie, otherworldly vastness.The vast, moonlike terrain rises in silence, its sheer size a stark reminder that Earth is never beyond the reach of cosmic forces, on top of that silence hangs along the rim, broken now and then by a sharp gust or the cry of a lone hawk, deepening the locale’s dramatic feel.Standing at the edge, visitors take in jagged sheets of rock ripped upward by the blast, with shards of stone littering the plains-a stark reminder of the instant that transformed the land.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-06
