While planning a camping trip, a Canadian man named Joël Lapointe discovered what appeared to be a large, circular crater in a remote area of Quebec. He noticed the unusual shape while looking at satellite images online in late 2023 or early 2024. The feature was located about 100 kilometers north of a small town called Magpie.
Lapointe, who is interested in space, first thought it must be a known place. However, after checking official geological records, he found no information about it. He then contacted scientists, and his discovery eventually reached Gordon Osinski, a geologist at Western University. Osinski is usually skeptical of such claims, as many round shapes on maps are natural landforms. But he agreed to investigate.
Osinski assembled a team, including geologist Jérôme Gattacceca, and they traveled to the remote site in October 2025. The journey was very difficult, requiring a seaplane and a long walk through water with heavy gear. The area was also overgrown and full of insects.
Despite the challenges, the team found evidence of a meteorite impact, including unique rock fractures and melted rock. They confirmed the depression is a 25-kilometer-wide meteorite crater, estimated to be 390 million years old. The site has been officially named Uhackatik after discussions with the local Indigenous community.
Finding new meteorite craters is rare, with only one or two confirmed globally each year. This discovery is considered significant, and Canada now has 31 confirmed craters. The team will present their findings at a meeting in Germany in August 2026. Lapointe hopes his experience encourages others to trust their observations.