Google Maps meteorite crater discovery in Quebec proves one amateur’s remarkable observation was real after scientists uncovered rare impact evidence
What began as a simple search for hiking routes has turned into one of the most remarkable geological discoveries in recent years. An amateur astronomer, using nothing more than Google Maps while planning a camping trip, noticed an unusual circular formation hidden in the landscape of northeastern Canada. At first, he assumed experts had already documented it—but what happened next surprised even leading scientists.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Joël Lapointe spotted what appeared to be a massive ring-shaped indentation stretching roughly 15.5 miles (25 kilometres) across in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region. Convinced it resembled a meteorite impact crater, he searched existing crater databases but found no record of the structure. Rather than dismissing his observation, Lapointe shared it with specialists.
His report eventually reached Gordon Osinski, a planetary geologist at Canada’s Western University and manager of the university’s Impact Earth crater database. Although Osinski was initially skeptical, he decided the location deserved a closer look.
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Scientists faced one of their toughest expeditions before uncovering the breakthrough evidence
In October 2025, Osinski co-led an expedition to investigate the suspected impact site. The journey proved exceptionally challenging.
“This was one of the most arduous expeditions I’ve ever done—and I’ve done 25 expeditions to the Arctic and six continents,” Osinski told Live Science. “The terrain was incredibly rough and rugged, plus [there were] lots of bugs.”
The difficult conditions paid off quickly. By the second day, researchers discovered shatter cones—distinctive cone-shaped rock formations created by powerful shock waves during meteorite impacts. They also identified extensive deposits of impact melt rock, formed when the intense heat and pressure generated by a meteor strike melts surrounding rock.
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These findings confirmed that a meteorite slammed into the region approximately 390 million years ago, creating what is now recognized as the Uhackatik impact crater.
| Detail | Information |
| Discoverer | Joël Lapointe |
| Discovery method | Google Maps observation |
| Location | Côte-Nord region, Quebec, Canada |
| Crater diameter | Approximately 15.5 miles (25 km) |
| Estimated age | Around 390 million years |
| Scientific confirmation | October 2025 expedition |
| Lead researcher | Gordon Osinski, Western University |
| Official crater name | Uhackatik |
| Public presentation | 88th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting, Germany |
Why the newly confirmed Uhackatik crater is such a rare scientific discovery
Osinski noted that reports of suspected impact craters frequently prove incorrect, making this confirmation particularly unusual.
“This is the first for me,” he told the CBC, adding that while most reports are false alarms, “there could always still be that one that will surprise you.”
Only about 200 confirmed meteorite impact craters are known worldwide, and researchers identify just one or two new craters each year, according to Osinski. The newly confirmed crater is also believed to rank among the largest impact craters discovered in recent memory.
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The team consulted the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, representing the region’s Indigenous community, before officially naming the crater Uhackatik. The discovery will be presented in August at the 88th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting in Germany.
Canada already holds the highest number of confirmed meteorite impact craters on Earth. Scientists say this is not because more space rocks strike Canada, but because the country’s ancient, stable bedrock has preserved evidence of impacts over hundreds of millions of years.
Reflecting on the discovery, Lapointe expressed both surprise and pride.
“It’s not every day that an ordinary citizen finds a 390-million-year-old crater,” he told Radio-Canada. “I encourage everyone to not ignore intuition or an observation, even if it isn’t part of your field of expertise.”
His extraordinary find serves as a reminder that even in the age of satellite imagery, groundbreaking discoveries can still begin with a curious eye and an unexpected moment on Google Maps.
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