The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs struck the Earth at the site now known as the Chicxulub crater, which is located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The impact occurred about 66 million years ago and created a crater approximately 150 to 200 kilometers in diameter, making it one of the largest impact craters on Earth
. This asteroid was estimated to be between 10 and 15 kilometers wide and hit the Earth at high velocity, causing massive devastation locally and triggering global environmental effects that led to the mass extinction event wiping out about 75% of Earth's species, including all non-avian dinosaurs
. The Chicxulub impact released enormous amounts of debris and gases into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and causing an "impact winter" that lasted for years, which severely disrupted the climate and ecosystems worldwide
. The crater is buried beneath the Yucatán Peninsula, with its center offshore, and was discovered through geophysical studies initially related to petroleum exploration
. In summary, the asteroid hit near the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, creating the Chicxulub crater, the site linked directly to the extinction of the dinosaurs
