From Loch Lomond to the Isle of Skye, Scotland is know for its stunning landscapes.
But 1.2 billion years ago, Scotland’s beautiful scenery was briefly interrupted, as an enormous meteorite slammed into the ground, according to a new study.
Scientists have discovered an enormous crater near Ullapool, Scotland, which they believe is the location for the biggest meteorite collision in history.
The huge meteorite is thought to have measured around 1km wide, leaving a 15-20km crater behind as it crashed into the Earth.
Researchers from Oxford University discovered the crater, buried beneath both water and younger rocks, in the Minch Basin.
Dr Ken Amor, who led the study, said: “The material excavated during a giant meteorite impact is rarely preserved on Earth, because it is rapidly eroded, so this is a really exciting discovery. It was purely by chance this one landed in an ancient rift valley where fresh sediment quickly covered the debris to preserve it.
“The next step will be a detailed geophysical survey in our target area of the Minch Basin.”
In the study, the researchers analysed the direction the meteorite material took at several locations, and plotted the likely source of the crater.
Dr Amor said: “It would have been quite a spectacle when this large meteorite struck a barren landscape, spreading dust and rock debris over a wide area.”
According to the experts, in the distant past Earth probably experienced a higher rate of meteorite impacts, as they collided with debris left over from the formation of the early solar system.
Thankfully, collisions with objects of this size are pretty rare, with the researchers estimating them to occur once every 100,000 years to once every 1 million years.
