Environment

This incredible discovery was made in Siberia in 1991. And the "Batagaika" or "Batagay crater", nicknamed the "Gateway to Hell", threatens our planet. 

This mega crater, the largest in the world, "came about due to the deterioration of permafrost as a result of rising temperatures and precipitation in the Arctic", reports the daily newspaper Nice-Matin. And according to scientists monitoring the crater, this evolution does not bode well. 

Already nearly 1 kilometer wide!
The crater is widening at an alarming rate, releasing various greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to global warming. Consequently, the gorge has been aptly named "Gateway to Hell. While it was 790 meters wide 10 years ago, it is now 200 meters wider and already measures 990 meters, Sciences et Vie and Nice-Matin report. 

By collapsing, the Batagay crater exposes layers of permafrost that had been frozen for thousands of years. This represents a volume of one million cubic meters per year since 2014. These figures may even be underestimates according to the scientific community. 

On the one hand, global warming is accelerating the melting of permafrost, and on the other hand, the greenhouse gases released are helping raise temperatures. A vicious cycle.

However, the researchers note that if the crater continues to widen, the permafrost inside will only be a few more meters thick, limiting its development. 

(FVDV and AsD for Tagtik/Source: Nice-Matin/Illustration: Unsplash)