Chicxulub crater: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 27, 2026

News •

Otter-like critter swam lakes and rivers in the age of dinosaurs • Oct. 22, 2026, 7:55 PM ET (Arizona Daily Star)

Photos and Videos

Map of the northern Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico highlighting the location and circular outline of the Chicxulub crater, which is about 180 kilometers in diameter and partly extends into the Gulf of Mexico. The map also shows nearby cities such as Merida, Cancun, Campeche, and Playa del Carmen, as well as international borders with Belize and Guatemala. An inset globe marks the region's location in the Americas.

Chicxulub impact crater

The Chicxulub asteroid

Chicxulub crater

Illustration showing a massive asteroid above a city map with a dinosaur silhouette for scale, highlighting the asteroid's size compared to major urban areas.

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Agnano Meteor Crater Wolf Creek Crater Ungava-Quebec Crater Wabar Craters Kaali järv Craters Odessa Meteor Crater Haviland Crater Dalgaranga Crater Boxhole Meteorite Crater