Batagaika crater, Thermokarst depression in Verkhoyansk district, Russia
Batagaika crater is an enormous depression in frozen ground in eastern Siberia that stretches for about one kilometer and reaches depths of 86 meters. The walls display multiple layers of rock, ice, and organic material that form a kind of geological record in the landscape.
Formation of this massive depression began in the 1960s when forest clearing exposed the permafrost to warmer air. Since then it has continued to expand as frozen ground steadily thaws beneath the surface.
Local people call this place the gateway to hell because of deep thumping sounds that echo from collapsing frozen ground. These noises happen as the permafrost thaws and the earth sinks down.
The site sits in a remote region with extremely cold winters, so summer is the best time to visit. Those heading there should prepare for rough terrain and challenging travel conditions typical of eastern Siberia.
Excavation within the crater has uncovered prehistoric animals including a 4,400-year-old horse and mammoth fossils preserved for thousands of years in the ice. These discoveries give researchers insight into the animal life that roamed the region in ancient times.
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