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Wetumpka Impact Crater Marker: Witness to Cataclysm

Explore Alabama's hidden history at the Wetumpka Impact Crater, a rare and well-preserved site from a cataclysmic meteor strike 85 million years ago.

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The Wetumpka Impact Crater, formed roughly 85 million years ago by a meteor strike, is a unique geological site. The historical marker on AL-21 marks the location of this ancient event, inviting visitors to explore the remains of one of the best-preserved marine impact craters in the world.

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Local tips

  • Visit the Wetumpka Impact Crater Discovery & Visitors Center downtown for interactive exhibits and information before exploring the site.
  • Follow the self-guided driving tour to see the crater's key features, using the educational viewpoint signs for context.
  • Look for the Alabama Historical Association marker on US-231 to learn about the crater's discovery and significance.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    The Wetumpka Impact Crater marker is located on AL-21, just east of Wetumpka. From downtown Wetumpka, head east on AL-14, then turn right onto AL-21 South. The marker will be on your right. Parking is available along the shoulder of the road. Note that AL-21 is a state highway, so exercise caution when parking and walking.

  • Walking

    If you are already in the immediate vicinity of Wetumpka, accessing the Wetumpka Impact Crater marker is possible on foot, though the walk would be lengthy from the downtown area. From the intersection of US-231 and AL-14 in Wetumpka, head east on AL-14, then turn right onto AL-21 South. The marker will be on your right, approximately 3 miles from the intersection. There are no sidewalks for much of this route, so proceed with caution.

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Discover more about Wetumpka Impact Crater marker

The Wetumpka Impact Crater, sometimes called 'Alabama's greatest natural disaster,' offers a glimpse into the state's ancient past. Around 85 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period, a meteor approximately 1,100 feet in diameter slammed into a shallow sea that covered much of present-day southern Alabama. The impact created a crater nearly five miles wide, instantly vaporizing everything in its immediate vicinity and sending shockwaves for hundreds of miles. Scientists estimate the energy released was equivalent to 175,000 times the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Today, the most visible remnants are the eroded hills east of downtown Wetumpka, which form a semi-circular rim. While the crater itself isn't as dramatic as some desert impact sites, its marine origin and subsequent preservation make it unique. The Wetumpka Impact Crater is one of only a few exposed impact crater locations in the United States and one of only about 200 recognized worldwide. The site gained international recognition in 2002 after shocked quartz, a mineral alteration unique to impact structures, was discovered in core samples. Visitors can learn more at the Wetumpka Impact Crater Discovery & Visitors Center in downtown Wetumpka, and explore the area via a self-guided driving tour with educational viewpoint signs.

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