The 7 Most Impressive Impact Craters On Earth

6. Nördlinger Ries (Ries Crater), Germany: The Populated Crater

The Nördlinger Ries in Bavaria, Germany, is a large impact crater, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) in diameter, formed around 14.8 million years ago. What makes it particularly fascinating is that several towns, including Nördlingen, are built directly within the crater depression. For centuries, its origin was debated, with many believing it to be volcanic. However, the discovery of shocked quartz (coesite and stishovite) in the 1960s confirmed its impact origin. The St. George's Church in Nördlingen is famously built from suevite, an impact breccia containing these shocked minerals and even tiny diamonds created by the impact.