The Yilan crater in Heilongjiang province, China, is a fascinating geological find. This crater is believed to be the youngest impact structure on Earth, dating between 46,000 and 53,000 years old. It measures about 1.15 miles (1.85 km) across and is located about 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) northwest of Yilan town.
The crater, shaped like a horseshoe, was discovered in mid-2021 by researchers who were initially intrigued by its strange circular form. Before the discovery, locals called it “Quanshan,” meaning “circular mountain ridge,” unaware of its true origin. The dense forests surrounding it had hidden its existence for thousands of years.
During their investigations, scientists uncovered evidence of a massive impact. They found “shocked quartz” and melted rock, which confirmed that a large meteorite had struck there. According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the discovery of these materials was crucial in identifying the site as an impact crater.
This discovery is significant because it challenges the previously accepted record-holder, Barringer Crater in Arizona, which is around 50,000 years old. The Yilan crater now holds the title as the largest known impact crater under 100,000 years old, surpassing Barringer Crater, which is only 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide.
Interestingly, the crater’s southern rim is missing, possibly from erosion or other geological activities. Sediments on the crater floor suggest it might have housed a lake once, adding to the mystery of its history.
The Yilan crater is notable not just for its age but also because it is only the second impact crater identified in China. The first was the Xiuyan crater, found in 2009, which dates back hundreds of thousands to millions of years. The sparse discoveries of impact craters in such a large country raise questions. Why haven’t more been identified? One theory is that China’s vast forested regions conceal many geological features.
In exciting developments, researchers recently discovered a third crater near the North Korean border, dating back at least 150 million years. Furthermore, in October 2025, a fourth crater was confirmed in Guangdong province, which may even be as recent as the Holocene epoch that started roughly 11,700 years ago.
This growing number of recognized craters suggests a deeper geological story in China that remains to be uncovered. As our tools and techniques improve, we may soon learn more about the impacts that have shaped our planet’s surface.
For more detailed insights into the Yilan crater and its significance, you can follow NASA’s Earth Observatory.
