Barringer Meteor Crater, Squarish-shaped Meteor Impact Crater

Barringer Meteor Crater is a 4,145 feet across, and 570 feet deep meteor crater. This squarish shape impact crater is is located in Arizona, USA. In 1871, it was though as a clasped top of volcano but in 1902 Dr. Daniel Barringer proved that the rocks around the hole were not volcanic and showed a couple of signs that mean it was crushed by an enormous body going at the speed of 43,125 mph. The explosion of the impact produced a massive explosion equivalent to at least 2.5 megatons of TNT or about 150 times the yield of the atomic bombs used at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The 300,000 tonne nickel-iron meteorite, about 50 meters accross, was smashed into pieces instantly and was scattered around the crater plain over an area 8 to 10 miles in diameter.

Looking into the crater from the north rim. The rust colored area on the far (south) rim is where the last mining for the meteorite occurred in 1929 and is believed to be the site of the bulk of the meteorite.

The meteor crater is large enough to be seen from outer space.