)  Location of the crater in the Arctic | |
| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | Confirmed |
| Diameter | 40 km (25 mi) |
| Age | 142.0 ± 2.6 Ma Early Cretaceous |
| Exposed | No |
| Drilled | Yes |
| Location | |
| Location | Barents Sea |
| Coordinates | 73°48′N 29°40′E / 73.800°N 29.667°E |
| Country | Norway |
Mjølnir is a meteorite crater on the floor of Barents Sea off the coast of Norway.[1] It is 40 km (25 mi) in diameter and the age is estimated to be 142.0 ± 2.6 million years (Early Cretaceous). The bolide was an estimated 2 km (1.2 mi) wide.
Etymology
Mjølnir is the name of Thor's mythological hammer. Giving the crater this name was presumably an allusion to the power of the weapon, which is often described as breaking and smashing rocks.
Description
In 2006, a group of Swedish geologists discovered indications of a tsunami flooding the Swedish southern coast at about 145 million years ago. It is speculated[2] to be associated with the Mjølnir impact, together with similar indications discovered in 2000 in France.
References
External links