It is 5 km (3 mi) in diameter and the age is estimated to be less than 250 million years (Triassic or later).

[4] The crater is unique in that it is the only preserved example of a transitional impact structure on earth.

The Carswell impact structure, also of Cretaceous age, is to the northwest of Gow.

[6][7] The lake, and by extension, the crater, were named after James Richard Gow.

He was killed in action during World War II on 25 April 1945.