(VIDEO 3:28 MINUTES) Two new craters were discovered in late July, 2014, in the Yamal and Taymyr Peninsulas in northern Siberia.
Of the second and third new Siberian craters found, one had appeared in 2013.
About two weeks after a very large crater had been discovered on the Yamal Peninsula of Siberia, two more craters were discovered on the Yamal and Taymyr Peninsulas, the second Yamal crater having been in existence since 2013.
A couple weeks ago, scientists were made aware of a massive crater in the permafrost of Yamal, Siberia. They’re currently analyzing the crater to understand the origins of the 30-meter-wide hole, but no definitive cause has been identified. Curiouser and curiouser, two new smaller craters have been discovered that seem to have arisen under similarly mysterious conditions. The Siberian Times reports that one of the craters is also located in Yamal and the other is to the east in the Taymyr Peninsula.
The second Yamal crater is about 15 meters wide and has a small icy lake at the bottom. Unlike the original crater, there were witnesses when this was formed on September 27, 2013, although there is some discrepancy about what happened. Some local residents claim the ground began smoking and then a huge flash of light appeared, while others believe it was caused by a meteorite.
The Taymyr crater was accidentally discovered by herders who nearly fell into it, and there are no eyewitness accounts of how it came to be. It is shaped like a slender cone, with the opening at 4 meters in diameter and reaching depths of 60-100 meters. Scientists aren’t sure what would cause this perfect cone shape, as it doesn’t overtly appear to be man-made or naturally occurring.
The original crater set the internet on fire with possible explanations of its origins, including weapons testing, meteorites, and even alien activity. One leading hypothesis involves an explosion of gas that had been trapped underground in the permafrost, especially given its proximity to the largest natural gas reserve in Siberia. The thawing ground would have warmed the methane, increasing pressure until it popped like a cork.
Source: The Siberian Times.
To see the discovery of even more craters, in February, 2015, visit the next page.
