Known as the “Gateway to Hell,” Batagayka Crater has continued to grow. This has changed the dynamics of temperatures in Siberia northeast of Russia.
In an interview with the news agency PortalRussian scientists warned of the possible formation of more similar craters in addition to the complete melting of Siberia’s permafrost the permanently frozen subsurface layer of the earth’s crust.
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Stunning drone footage has revealed details of Batagaika Crater, a onekilometer gap in far east Russia that forms the world’s largest permafrost crater.
Scientists say Russia is warming at least 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world https://t.co/XqPNeRhn6Y pic.twitter.com/SOYHMFxu1a
— Portal (@Portal) July 21, 2023
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The geological formation of the Batagayka crater appeared in the 1960s when part of a forest was cut down. 25 to 30 years later, the hole continues to grow, at 20 to 30 meters per year. There is currently no exact measurement.
The depth of the “Hell’s Gate” crater
The crater has already reached a length of 1 kilometer, is 85 meters deep and can reach up to 100 meters in some places.
“More and more holes like this will form in the future as temperatures rise, until all permafrost disappears,” commented researcher Nikita Tananaev of the Yakutsk Permafrost Research Institute.
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The expert revealed that there is an “enormous amount” of organic carbon in the soil beneath the giant crater. This substance will be released into the atmosphere as permafrost thaws, which will increase global warming.
Scientists report that Russia is warming about 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world. As a result, the frozen tundra covering about 65% of the country’s landmass is melting.
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