The extinction of dinosaurs occurred around 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period. This event is widely believed to have been caused by a combination of catastrophic events, including a massive asteroid impact near the Yucatán Peninsula in present-day Mexico. This impact created the Chicxulub crater and led to dramatic climate changes, disrupting ecosystems. In addition to the asteroid impact, volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps of present-day India may have contributed to the extinction. These eruptions released large amounts of ash and gases into the atmosphere, further altering the climate and making it difficult for many species, including dinosaurs, to survive.