A Canadian man’s casual Google Maps exploration has led to an astonishing discovery: an ancient meteor crater in Canada. Joel Lapointe, while planning a camping trip in Quebec's Côte-Nord region, stumbled upon an unusual pit on the map that piqued his curiosity.

Uncovering the Crater: A Surprising Discovery

While exploring the Côte-Nord area, Lapointe noticed a massive pit with a diameter of 15 kilometers and an odd, unnatural curve. His attention was drawn to the site due to its striking appearance. Upon further examination, he observed a ring of mountains surrounding Marsal Lake, which spans approximately eight kilometers in diameter. This unique formation prompted Lapointe to share his find with Pierre Rochette, a French geophysicist specializing in Earth's surface features.

Geophysical Analysis: A Meteor Impact Theory

Pierre Rochette analyzed the topography of the site and suggested it might be the result of an ancient meteor impact. In an interview with CBC News, Rochette highlighted that the terrain strongly indicated an impact origin. To verify this theory, Rochette and his team collected samples from the site. They discovered zircon, a mineral that captures damage from meteor impacts, lending credibility to the hypothesis that the pit was formed by a historic meteor collision.

Scientific Community Reacts

The discovery has captured the attention of the scientific community. Gary Osinski, a professor of Earth Sciences at Western University, considers the site a "strong contender" for a meteorite impact location. Although many potential craters identified via Google Earth and Maps turn out to be unrelated geological formations, Osinski believes Lapointe’s find holds significant promise.

Experts are cautious, emphasizing the need for further tests to conclusively confirm the crater's origins. If validated, this could represent a major scientific breakthrough.

Joel Lapointe's unexpected find through Google Maps has sparked excitement and intrigue, showcasing the potential of technology to uncover remarkable geological discoveries.