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World most extreme places

Chicxulub Crater, Mexico

From series “Largest Meteorite Craters on Earth”
Chicxulub crater in Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula, was formed as a result of a meteorite crush about 65 million years ago. Chicxulub is quite young in comparison with other large craters of our planet. According to scientists, this catastrophe could have been the cause of the partial or complete extinction of dinosaurs. The disaster had a huge scale. Researchers suggest that a fallen meteorite could have caused a tsunami with waves up to 100 meters high.

A dust cloud around the planet blocked the sunlight and, so, the air temperature on the Earth has gone down dramatically. It’s now incredibly difficult to determine the extent of the disaster, as well as the size of the original crater. Over millions of years, an erosion and other geological factors were constantly changing the meteorite area. Some scientists assume that the diameter of the original crater could reach 300 km. Now, the apparent diameter of the crater is about 180 km.

The structure has been found relatively recently, in 1987, during one of the geophysical expeditions arranged to search for oil deposits. As a result, the symmetrical arch was discovered by researchers at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Then scientists moved to land. It was decided to name a discovered crater after the nearby settlement of Chicxulub. This name literally translates from Mayan as a demon of ticks. Since discovery, large-scale studies of the crater do not stop even for a moment. The investigation made it possible to clarify the theory of the Cretaceous-Paleogene crisis, which killed the dinosaurs and a number of the few and most vulnerable species of animals and plants. Next - Aorounga Crater


Manicouagan Crater, Canada Manicouagan Crater, Canada
  Manicouagan Crater, Canada   Aorounga Crater, Chad  
Aorounga Crater, Chad Aorounga Crater, Chad

Chicxulub Crater - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'BBVA BANCOMER PROGRESO CENTRO' located in 19 km ( check the route on the map).
Fuel station: 'José Gabriel Escalante y Sucres' in 16 km
Supermarket: 'Charly' in 16 km
Apotheek: 'Farmacia Nova' in 16 km
Police station: 'Comisaria de Xcanatún' in 37 km
Cafe/restaurant: 'Restaurante Viña del Mar' in 18 km

Nearest airports:
 »  Chichen Itza International Airport CZA - in 139 km
 »  Cancun Airport CUN - in 276 km
 »  Cozumel Airport CZM - in 285 km
 »  Isla Mujeres Airport IMU - in 288 km
 Cities nearby

Best hotels near Chicxulub Crater

Gabriel House

Located in 9 km from Chicxulub Crater
Route on the map:
Rooms: 16
The air-conditioned Gabriel House is decorated in a contemporary style and has 2 full bathrooms and a spacious living-dining area which opens onto … More: photo, rates and booking
Casa Lago Dominguez On The Beach

Located in 12 km from Chicxulub Crater
Route on the map:
Rooms: 3
The accommodation will provide you with a seating area. There is a full a kitchen with a dining table. Private bathrooms also come with a shower. … More: photo, rates and booking
Villas Yessenia

Located in 15 km from Chicxulub Crater
Route on the map:
Rooms: 14
The rooms feature Mexican décor with tiled bathroom, air conditioning, cable TV, wardrobe and ceiling fan. There is also a furnished terrace, a … More: photo, rates and booking
Playa Linda Hotel

Located in 19 km from Chicxulub Crater
Route on the map:
Rooms: 25
All accommodation at the Playa Linda features stylish contemporary décor and cable TV. Some rooms have LCD TVs and some have sea views. Studios and … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

Izamal
73 km - Izamal
Mexican Izamal city is unusual too. Its second name is the Yellow City. About 15 thousand people live there permanently. The small city appeals tourists with its original deep-yellow-coloured buildings. In the city, there are a lot of beautiful historical stone …
Cenotes of Yucatan
101 km - Cenotes of Yucatan
The peninsula of Yucatan is known for its incredible natural beauty. No wonder this is one of the most unique and little explored sights - Cenotes. These are the underground karst caves that are filled with the water. Cenotes have formed as a result of volcanic …
Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza
126 km - Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza
Ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza, located in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of the most visited attractions in the world. Every year, tens of thousands of travelers come to the Mayan cultural center to stroll through its streets, admire the …
Cenote Ik Kil Well
129 km - Cenote Ik Kil Well
Natural wells or cenotes are amazing creations of nature. Some of them are so gorgeous that it’s impossible to believe in their existence. One of these is the Cenote Ik Kil, located in Mexico. This well, which is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of the …
Campeche
204 km - Campeche
On the Mexican coast has placed an old town Campeche. It was always the main aim of pirates. That’s why the fort systems of fortification were built year by year. Some parts of this system were saved until our times. The most interesting touristic district is the Old …
Sac Actun
248 km - Sac Actun
Diving in the caves is considered one of the most popular and spectacular extreme entertainment, and one of the best spots for this is Sac Actun Cave. Their general length is about 317.5 km, of which only 6 km of galleries are 'dry'. All other tunnels are more …

Top destination around Chicxulub Crater - Merida

The historic center of Merida is decorated with beautiful old buildings, among which we should definitely mention the Main Cathedral. During the tour guides will surely show you those old rocks, which are also present in the walls of the cathedral. Another architectural landmark, which has survived since middle ages, is the remains of the fortress gates and walls. Once they symbolized the entrance of the city and today the territory of the city has gone far beyond these restrictive gates. Besides historical monuments Merida is rich in museums, exhibitions, and galleries. In some of them you can see the exhibition of works by contemporary painters and sculptors, while others will tell you about the city's history and development. Like any ancient city, Merida keeps a rich collection of archeological artifacts that can be seen by anyone.

While visiting modern movie theaters, restaurants and bars, you'll be amazed by the amazing contrasts of the colonial buildings. Many hotels are opened in old houses, but inside they are beautiful design complexes equipped according to the latest trends in technology. Merida features numerous cultural programs and attractions for visitors of this magnificent place. Tasting of local specialties, walking on the ancient streets of Merida, sightseeing and beautiful legends that shroud the city's history - this is only a small part of activities that should be included into the program of any traveler.
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