Once again, we are discussing the mysterious face of Siberia. This time, the spotlight is on the endlessly growing Batagaika Crater, which stands like a giant gateway to the underground world. This crater first appeared in 1991 following the collapse of a hillside in the Yana Highlands of Siberia’s northern Yakutia region and has been growing ever since. But why? Here’s the concerning reason…

The Batagaika Crater, the gateway to Siberia’s underground world, is growing rapidly

Expanding by an average of 1 million cubic meters each year, it reveals the heart of one of the world’s oldest permafrost layers. The main reason behind the continuous growth of this crater is the melting of the surrounding permafrost. The walls of the crater are collapsing due to the melting soil, which in turn causes the crater to expand even further.

Thus, as the Batagaika Crater grows, more permafrost layers melt, initiating a chain reaction. Scientists are worried that if the crater continues to expand at this rate, the surrounding permafrost will melt even faster.

This continuous growth is not just limited to the physical size of the Batagaika Crater; it also highlights the severe effects of global warming. Rising temperatures are melting deeper permafrost layers, releasing ancient gases and microorganisms into the atmosphere. One of the most astonishing discoveries was the revival of an ancient zombie virus that had been frozen for 40,000 years.

Shiftdelete.net

Of course, human activities are one of the reasons behind the crater’s rapid expansion. Industrial activities and environmental policies accelerate global warming, worsening such natural formations. In the future, changes in this crater and similar natural structures could lead to serious consequences for both local and global communities.

Recent scientific studies on the crater provide valuable information that helps us better understand these changes. Published in the journal “Geomorphology,” this study examines in detail how the crater is changing and the effects of these changes on the ecosystem.

Siberia’s massive Batagaika Crater lays bare the force of nature and the consequences of human impact. This gateway to the underground world may offer us yet undiscovered secrets of the Earth.