·

Gigantic sinkhole opens up in Yamal Peninsula, northern Russia

gigantic-sinkhole-opens-up-in-yamal-peninsula-northern-russia

A mysterious gigantic sinkhole has opened up in the peninsula of Yamal, a place which locals call the 'end of the world', Siberia, northern Russia. It was originally thought to be a fake, but the hole has been established as a real phenomenon and is thought to have been formed around two years ago.

The sinkhole appeared close to a forest some 30 kilometers from Yamal's biggest gas field Bovanenkovo. It is approximately 80 meters wide (about 262 feet), and is probably the biggest sinkhole ever spotted in the country. It could also be one of the deepest ever recorded in the world.

A scientific expedition organized by the Yamal authorities arrived at the scene today. It includes two experts from the Centre for the Study of the Arctic, one from Cryosphere Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a specialist from the Emergencies Ministry. They plan to take samples of soil, air and water from the scene.

That's about all the information we have at this time. Speculations of what caused the phenomenon have already started circulating. They include a meteorite hitting the earth, collapsing rock, global warming and a crashed UFO.

A spokesman for the ministry's Yamal branch ruled out a meteorite but said it was too early to say what cause it. 

The Yamal Peninsula in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug is a strategic oil and gas bearing region of Russia. It is Russia's main production area for gas and the Bovanenkovo field is of central importance to gas supplies from Siberia to the world.

Update:

Pingo

The most plausible explanation so far is a collapsed “pingo”, and these new pictures and video from the Siberian Times suggest it probably is. The pictures below from Parks Canada show similar structures in the process of collapse. For those that want to blame the collapse on “global warming” you might also note it is summer in Yamal, and melting ice is a regular and expected occurrence. (WUWT)

Methane at the bottom

According to a recent Nature article, “air near the bottom of the crater contained unusually high concentrations of methane — up to 9.6% — in tests conducted at the site on 16 July, says Andrei Plekhanov, an archaeologist at the Scientific Centre of Arctic Studies in Salekhard, Russia. Plekhanov, who led an expedition to the crater, says that air normally contains just 0.000179% methane.”

The scientist said the methane release may be related to Yamal’s unusually hot summers in 2012 and 2013, which were warmer by an average of 5 degrees Celsius. “As temperatures rose, the researchers suggest, permafrost thawed and collapsed, releasing methane that had been trapped in the icy ground,” the report stated.

Plekhanov explained to Nature that the conclusion is preliminary. He would like to study how much methane is contained in the air trapped inside the crater’s walls. Such a task, however, could be difficult. “Its rims are slowly melting and falling into the crater,” the researcher told the science publication. “You can hear the ground falling, you can hear the water running; it’s rather spooky.” (WP)

Source, video and featured image: SiberianTimes

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

7 Comments

  1. Sheeple? Really…really?

    People, just google map the place; it's ridden with holes! The difference is that most of these are filled with water. Try critical thinking for once, djeez….

  2. Siberia is where the team of scientist dug below the surface and found screams from hell. Now this. In matter of fact, the picture looks as though an invisible arm is present. Interesting.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *