Nördlinger Ries

The Nördlinger Ries is a large impact crater in southern Germany, formed about 14.5 million years ago when a meteorite struck the Earth. This collision created a bowl-shaped depression roughly 25 kilometers (16 miles) across. Over time, the crater was partly filled in by sediments and different rocks, but its structure is still visible today. The area is geologically significant because it provides insight into impact events and Earth's history. The region is flat and fertile, supporting agriculture, and the crater's shape has influenced local landscape, towns, and ecosystems.