Quebec Man Discovers 390-Million-Year-Old Meteorite Crater on Google Maps

An amateur astronomer from Quebec, Joël Lapointe, discovered a massive circular pit while browsing Google Maps near the Côte-Nord region. After contacting scientists, the site has been confirmed as a 390-million-year-old meteorite impact crater, now named 'Lac de la Lune' (Moon Lake). The crater measures approximately 8 km in diameter and was formed during the Devonian period.

According to CTV News, the discovery was verified by geologists from the University of Quebec and the Geological Survey of Canada. The crater's age was determined through radiometric dating of rock samples. Space.com notes that the crater is one of the oldest known in Canada, though not the oldest globally. The meteorite that created it is estimated to have been 1-2 km in diameter.

The timeline of events: Lapointe spotted the anomaly in 2022, reported it to scientists in 2023, and the confirmation was published in early 2025. The crater had been previously overlooked due to its remote location and dense forest cover. Smithsonian Magazine highlights that Lapointe's discovery is a prime example of citizen science contributing to significant geological findings.

This discovery underscores the potential for new findings using satellite imagery and public participation. It also adds to the understanding of Earth's impact history. Future research may focus on the crater's geological features and its effects on the local environment.