Key Information
Batagaika Crater
| Type | Thermokarst Depression |
| Area | 200 acres |
| Depth | 164 ft |
| Discovered | 1960s |
Learning Point
- The Batagaika Crater, located in Siberia, is a massive, growing depression in the Earth’s surface formed due to permafrost thaw. This “Gateway to Hell,” as it’s sometimes called, has been expanding rapidly since the 1960s due to deforestation and climate change. As the permafrost thaws, it releases greenhouse gases, contributing to a feedback loop that accelerates global warming. The crater offers valuable insights into Earth’s past climate and has revealed ancient organic materials and even preserved remains of extinct animals. However, its growth poses significant environmental threats, making it a subject of both scientific interest and concern.
Project
- Draw the crater and the wildlife we find in it.
- Overview
- Inside
- Wall
Location
| Located in | Verkhoyansky District, Sakha Republic, Russia |
Fun Facts
- Early signs of the crater’s existence first appeared in the early 1960s.
- Some sources say the crater is growing by 35 million cubic feet each year.
- Craters like this forming in permafrost are a major indicator of global warming and climate change.
- Many different extinct animals, plants and even pollen have been revealed as the crater expands and the permafrost melts.
Past Lessons
| 137 | November 18, 2024 | (North America) |