What is Nördlinger Ries?
{{Infobox terrestrial impact site | name = Nördlinger Ries | other_name = | photo = Nördlinger Ries Relief Map, SRTM-1.jpg | photo_size = | photo_alt = | photo_caption = Relief map of Nördlinger Ries | map = Germany | map_alt = | map_caption = Position of the crater in Germany | map_size = | location = | label = | label_position = | coordinates = {{Coord|48|53|N|10|34|E|region:DE-BY_type:city|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | confidence = Confirmed | diameter = {{cvt|24|km}} | depth = | rise = | imp_size = | age = 14.808 ± 0.038 mya, Middle [[Miocene]] | exposed = Yes | drilled = Yes | bolide = [[Achondrite]] | translation = | language = | pronunciation = | topo = | access = | country = [[Germany]] | state = [[Bavaria]] and [[Baden-Württemberg]] | province = | district = [[Donau-Ries]] | municipality = [[Nördlingen]] }} The '''Nördlinger Ries''' is an [[impact crater]] caused by a [[meteorite]].<ref>J. Baier: ''Geohistorische Bemerkungen zur Suevit-Forschung (Ries-Impakt)''. Geohistorische Blätter, 31(1/2), Berlin 2020.</ref> It is a large circular depression in western [[Bavaria]] and eastern [[Baden-Württemberg]]. It is north of the [[Danube]] in the district of [[Donau-Ries]]. The city of [[Nördlingen]] is in the depression, about {{convert|6|km}} south-west of its centre. The depression is a meteorite impact crater formed 14.808 ± 0.038 million years ago in the [[Miocene]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Schwarz|first1=Winfried H.|last2=Hanel|first2=Michael|last3=Trieloff|first3=Mario|date=February 2020|title=U‐Pb dating of zircons from an impact melt of the Nördlinger Ries crater|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maps.13437|journal=Meteoritics & Planetary Science|language=en|volume=55|issue=2|pages=312–325|doi=10.1111/maps.13437|bibcode=2020M&PS...55..312S|s2cid=214304156|issn=1086-9379}}</ref> The crater is most commonly referred to simply as ''Ries crater'' or ''the Ries''. The original crater rim had an estimated diameter of {{convert|24|km|sp=us|abbr=on}}. The present