Canadian man spots ancient meteor crater on Google Maps while planning camping trip

A Canadian man planning a camping trip stumbled upon a strange circular hole on Google Maps. What started as casual curiosity has now been confirmed as a 390-million-year-old meteor impact crater.

The discovery was made earlier this year when the man, whose name has not been publicly released, was scouting locations for a camping expedition in Quebec. He noticed a near-perfect circular pit on satellite imagery, unlike anything he had seen before.

A hunch that paid off

Intrigued by the unusual formation, the man reached out to scientists. He shared the coordinates and images, suggesting the pit could be an impact crater. Researchers from The Planetary Society and other institutions took note.

A team of geologists and planetary scientists examined the site. They confirmed the pit is indeed a meteor impact crater, estimated to be around 390 million years old. The crater has been named Uhackatik, a name derived from local Indigenous language.

What makes Uhackatik special

Uhackatik is not just any old hole in the ground. It is a rare example of a well-preserved impact structure from the Devonian period. During that time, Earth's landmasses were arranged very differently, and life was still spreading across the continents.

Scientists say the crater measures roughly 1.5 kilometres in diameter. That size suggests the meteor that created it was substantial—likely several tens of metres across. The impact would have released energy equivalent to a large nuclear explosion.

How satellite imagery is changing science

This is not the first time a Google Maps user has helped scientists make a discovery. Satellite imagery has become a powerful tool for identifying geological features that might otherwise go unnoticed. In remote areas like northern Quebec, ground surveys are expensive and time-consuming.

Experts say the find underscores the value of citizen science. When ordinary people pay attention to the world around them—even through a screen—they can contribute to real scientific breakthroughs. The Canadian man's sharp eye saved researchers years of searching.

Canada has several known impact craters, including the famous Pingualuit crater in Quebec. But each new discovery adds to the understanding of Earth's history and the frequency of cosmic collisions.

What happens next

Geologists plan to conduct field studies at the Uhackatik site to gather more data. They hope to analyse rock samples and confirm the exact timing of the impact. The crater could also provide clues about the environment in that region hundreds of millions of years ago.

The man who spotted the crater has not sought public attention. But his discovery will be recorded in scientific literature, a reminder that sometimes the biggest finds start with a simple look at a map.