Images show details of the world’s largest crater, formed by melting ice
Drone footage has revealed details of the world’s largest crater, formed by melting permafrost, a type of ground that is naturally frozen. SEE VIDEO ABOVE.
The crater, called Batagaika, is located in Russia, in the Siberian region, and is growing rapidly, according to observations by local residents and studies by scientists, Portal news agency shows.
Nikita Tananayev, senior permafrost researcher at the Yakutsk Melnikov Institute, says the soil beneath the crater contains a large amount of organic carbon, which is released into the atmosphere as the permafrost thaws, leading to further warming of the planet.
“As air temperatures rise, we can expect the crater to expand faster,” he said. “In the coming years, this will lead to ever greater warming of the climate.”
Melting permafrost has already threatened cities in northern and northeastern Russia, deforming roads, splitting homes and disrupting oil pipelines. Large wildfires, which have become increasingly violent in recent seasons, have exacerbated the problem.
In the Portal news agency video, researchers climb into the crater, which is characterized by uneven surfaces and small ridges that began to form after the surrounding forest was cleared in the 1960s and the underground permafrost began to thaw.
1 of 1 images show details of the world’s largest crater, formed by melting ice; see VIDEO Photo: Portal Images reveal details of world’s largest crater formed by melting ice; see VIDEO Photo: Portal