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Steinheim

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description Steinheim Overview

Steinheim is a meteorite impact crater located in the Swabian Alps of southwestern Germany. It measures approximately 3.8 kilometers in diameter and was formed about 15 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. The impact event is closely associated with the larger, nearby Ries crater, and both structures are believed to have been created simultaneously by a binary asteroid. The center of the Steinheim crater features a prominent uplifted central peak structure known as the Klosterberg.

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Where is the Steinheim crater located?

The Steinheim crater is a meteorite impact crater located in the Swabian Alb region of Germany. It sits just southwest of the much larger and more famous Ries impact structure. Both craters are believed to have been formed simultaneously by a binary asteroid strike.

When did the meteorite impact that created the Steinheim crater occur?

The impact occurred approximately 15 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. It is widely believed that the same astronomical event created both the Steinheim crater and the nearby 24-kilometer Ries crater. The impact sent massive shockwaves across what is now southern Germany.

How large is the Steinheim crater?

The Steinheim crater measures roughly 3.8 kilometers (about 2.4 miles) in diameter. Despite its impressive width, it is considered a relatively small-to-medium impact structure compared to its twin, the Ries crater. The depression is prominently visible in the local topography today.

What evidence of the meteorite impact can be seen at Steinheim today?

The crater is famously recognized by geologists for its well-preserved central uplift, a raised peak in the middle formed by the rebound of the Earth's crust after the impact. Researchers also find "shatter cones"—distinctively grooved, conical rock formations—throughout the site. These shatter cones are definitive proof of a high-energy meteorite strike.

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