‘Not a meteor, not a volcano’: The Alaskan crater that science is struggling to explain
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Credit: Nye, C. via USGS
A Perfectly Round Enigma
Savonoski Crater is a 1,600-foot-wide hole in Alaska that looks like a meteorite impact site—but no space rock has ever been found.
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No Impact Evidence
Despite its striking shape, there are no traces of meteoritic debris or shocked rocks, ruling out a confirmed space impact.
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A Volcanic Puzzle
Some scientists believe it’s a volcanic maar, but there are no known magma vents in the area, making this theory just as mysterious.
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Ice Age Erased the Truth?
Glaciers swept across the region between 23,000 and 14,700 years ago, possibly wiping away key evidence of how the crater formed.
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A Lonely Mystery
Unlike other craters, Savonoski has no surrounding debris, making it even harder to classify as either volcanic or impact-related.
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No Modern Studies
The last major scientific study on the crater was in 1978, leaving its origins largely untouched by modern technology.
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Hidden Clues Below?
Scientists suggest that drilling into the crater could finally reveal whether it was caused by an impact, explosion, or something unknown.
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Unlike Anything Else
Nearby craters, like Alaska’s Ukinrek Maars, have volcanic origins—but Savonoski doesn’t match their geological patterns.
Credit: Alaska Volcano Observatory
An Unsolved Geological Riddle
With no conclusive evidence, some experts believe an unknown process may have created this bizarre, unexplained formation.
Credit: Alaska Volcano Observatory