Hiker’s Google Maps discovery confirmed as 390-million-year-old meteor crater

A Canadian hiker scanning Google Maps to plan a camping trip stumbled upon something far older and more dramatic than a good campsite. What looked like a strange, circular pit turned out to be a 390-million-year-old meteor impact crater.

The discovery, confirmed by scientists, adds a new chapter to Earth's geological history. The crater, now named Uhackatik, sits in a remote part of Canada, hidden in plain sight until a sharp-eyed outdoorsman noticed its unusual shape on satellite imagery.

How a camping trip led to a cosmic find

The hiker, whose name has not been publicly released, was zooming into a region of Quebec using Google Maps when he spotted a near-perfect circular depression. Intrigued, he contacted researchers at the Canadian Geological Survey.

Initial scepticism gave way to excitement when field studies revealed telltale signs of an ancient impact. The crater measures roughly 30 kilometres in diameter, making it one of the larger impact structures discovered in recent years.

“It stood out immediately on satellite images. The circular shape was too perfect to be a natural geological formation,” a researcher told local media.

What makes the Uhackatik crater significant

Radiometric dating of rock samples from the site placed the impact at around 390 million years ago, during the Devonian period. That was a time when fish were diversifying and the first forests were spreading across the land.

The crater's age makes it a rare find. Many ancient impact craters have been eroded or buried over millions of years. Uhackatik's relatively well-preserved structure offers scientists a window into the violence of Earth's past.

Analysis of shocked quartz and other impact-related minerals confirmed the extraterrestrial origin. The meteor that created the crater is estimated to have been at least a kilometre wide.

Google Maps as a tool for geological discovery

This is not the first time satellite imagery has helped uncover hidden geological features. Amateur sleuths and professional geologists alike have used platforms like Google Earth to spot craters, fault lines, and even lost cities.

The discovery of Uhackatik underscores how accessible technology can contribute to serious scientific research. The hiker's casual observation set in motion a chain of events that led to peer-reviewed confirmation of a major impact event.

Researchers are now planning detailed surveys of the crater to understand its structure and the environmental effects of the impact. Data from the site could also help identify other hidden craters in similar terrain.

What happens next

The crater's official designation is pending approval from international geological bodies. Scientists hope to publish a full study in the coming months. For now, the hiker who spotted the pit has been credited as the discoverer, a reminder that sometimes the biggest finds start with a curious glance at a screen.