The animals below represent some examples of the megafauna (large animals) that may have lived on the Colorado Plateau approximately 50,000 years ago. Position the mouse over each animal to learn its name and characteristics.
Did humans witness the impact?
Archeological evidence suggests that Homo sapiens did not cross the
Bering straight land bridge from
Siberia to North America until approximately 12,000-14,000 years
ago, long after the impact event.
This web site is part of the
NASA/UA Space Imagery Center's Impact Cratering Series.
Concept and content by David
A. Kring and Jake Bailey.
Design, graphics, and images
by Jake Bailey and David A. Kring.
All information and images
are the property of the Space Imagery Center.
To obtain usage permission,
contact the Data Manager -
Maria Schuchardt