Massive landslide in Grand Canyon linked to meteor impact

A meteorite impact may have set off a powerful earthquake thousands of years ago, triggering a massive landslide that dammed the Colorado River and created a long-lost lake in the Grand Canyon.

Massive landslide in Grand Canyon linked to ancient meteor impact

A meteorite impact thousands of years ago may have triggered a landslide in the Grand Canyon and reshaped the Colorado River. Researchers found evidence in Driftwood and lake sediments in Stanton's Cave, leading to a connection between the cave and Meteor Crater. They estimated the driftwood to be about 56,000 years old. The impact may have induced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 to 6. This could have led to shaking cliffs, resulting in a landslide that dammed the river and created a paleolake in the canyon. The study suggests that the paleolake would have been extensive, approximately 50 miles long and nearly 300 feet deep.

This research sheds light on the geological history of the Grand Canyon. It highlights how external forces, like meteor impacts, can drastically alter landscapes. The possibility of a large paleolake raises intriguing questions about the region's environment and ecology during that time. However, researchers caution that while the link to the meteor is compelling, more studies are necessary to confirm these findings and rule out other geological events that might explain the landscape changes.

Highlights

This discovery invites deeper investigation into the ancient environmental changes in the region.