Huge explosion that created a mysterious giant crater in Siberia was heard 100km away and caused a 'clear glow' in the sky
- Crater opened in 2013 and has since increased size by more than 15 times
- It's thought it may have been formed by explosions of underground gas
- New account reveals locals heard an explosion and saw 'clear glow' in sky
- The Taimyr crater sits hundreds of miles way from dozens of similar holes
Three years ago, a mysterious crater suddenly opened up on the Taimyr peninsula in Siberia, tearing a hole in the Earth that was an estimated 330 feet deep.
Since then, it's rapidly grown to more than 15 times its original size, increasing from 13 feet in width to roughly 230 at the last survey.
Scientists have suggested numerous natural explanations, but the appearance of the bizarre hole has prompted theories of stray missiles and even aliens – and now, one expert reveals nearby residents reported hearing an explosion, and witnessed a 'clear glow' in the sky.
Scroll down for video
Three years ago, a crater suddenly opened up on the Taimyr peninsula in Siberia, and was an estimated 330ft deep. New information reveals locals heard an explosion, and saw a glow in the sky.
The isolated Taimyr crater sits nearly 300 hundreds miles away from dozens of similar, newly-formed giant holes on Yamal peninsula, a region the locals have dubbed 'the end of the world,' according to The Siberian Times.
When it first emerged in 2013, the crater, called the Deryabinsky crevice, nearly swallowed up a group of reindeer herders.
Debris of displaced soil, sand, and ice littered an area more than half a mile wide, and researchers think it may have been caused by the explosions of methane or other underground gas.
In the year and a half that followed, it grew rapidly, and the crater is now the site of a lake, which formed as permafrost melted and the walls of the crater caved in.
Now, the leading expert to explore this remote region has revealed the previously unheard reports from witnesses in the surrounding areas.
'There is verbal information that residents of nearby villages – at a distance of 70-100 km – heard a sound like an explosion, and one of them watched a clear glow in the sky.
'It was about one month after the Chelyabinsk meteorite,' Dr Vladimir Epifanov told The Siberian Times.
Locals speculated the phenomenon may have been another exploding space object, but researchers say this is not the case.
So far, there is no confirmed explanation for the bizarre sighting.
When it first emerged in 2013, the crater, called the Deryabinsky crevice, nearly swallowed up a group of reindeer herders.
An earlier account on the appearance of the giant hole offered little help, stating, 'It is not like the work of men, but it also doesn't look like natural formation,' The Siberian Times reports.
A widely agreed upon theory suggests that the craters of Yamal were caused by climate change, as the pressure of methane gas released from thawing permafrost forced pingos to erupt.
A widely agreed upon theory suggests that the craters of Yamal were caused by climate change, as the pressure of methane gas released from thawing permafrost forced pingos to erupt.
The crater is located 27km (17 miles) from the Bovanenkovo gas field in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, an area better known for reindeer hunting, in the far north of Siberia. It has a diameter of 98ft (30 metres) and is the largest of three known craters in the Russian region (marked)
These structures are dome-shaped mounds that cover an ice core, and are common in Arctic and sub-arctic regions, according to leading authority Professor Vasily Bogoyavlensky.
But for the Taimyr crater, scientists believe there may be a different explanation.
Epifanov suggests the Taimyr eruption was not a direct result of climate change, as its source would have been at a depth too far below the surface.
A widely agreed upon theory suggests that the craters of Yamal were caused by climate change, as the pressure of methane gas released from thawing permafrost forced pingos to erupt.
Instead, he proposes a 'normal' process of degassation, in which gas hydrates 1,640 feet underground may have degraded to release methane.
This would have caused the methane to accumulate at a depth of roughly 330 feet.
It's thought that the rapidly morphing crater is even wider now than when it was last examined, and researchers say it will likely soon merge with a nearby lake when its walls collapse.
The other favoured theory is that the hole was caused by an explosion of methane underground.
The Yamal Peninsula is rich in natural gas, and a mixture of water, salt and gas could result in an explosion.
Gas hydrates are ice-like forms of water containing gas molecules, notably methane.
They exist in permafrost regions such as northern Siberia, but also under the oceans in some parts of the world.
‘It turned out that there are gas hydrates both in the deep layer which on peninsula is several hundred metres down, and on the layer close to the surface,’ said Vladimir Potapov, a Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics in Novosibirsk, before the latest expedition.
‘There might be another factor, or factors, that could have provoked the air clap.
- Jaguar sneaks up on keeper before giving him a big kiss
- Rangers rescue baby elephant and rejoin it with its family
- Dog really loves being kissed by his owner
- Cop drops handcuffed teen on his face after tasering him
- CCTV shows US police officer fatally shooting knife-wielding...
- Orca whale behaves strangely and lies motionless out of...
- Shocking video shows man punching girlfriend to the floor
- John Oliver presses the button to forgive $15m of medical...
- Impressive moment eco-friendly laser restores rusty...
- Grand theft paw-to: Bear breaks into car and scares family
- Flightradar24 shows just how many planes cross the Atlantic
- Miss California stumbles through income inequality question
- Trump says HE'S the victim as he makes desperate bid to end...
- Yoga expert who 'intentionally' drove off a 200ft cliff and...
- Paul Ryan calls Trump's attack on Mexican-American judge a...
- MMA legend Kimbo Slice dies aged 42: Street fighter turned...
- Father of Stanford swimmer - whose six month sentence for...
- 'This woman has perhaps superseded the work of every...
- 'She was unconscious the entire time': Hero tells how he...
- 'Do you remember me?': Incredible moment a chimp smiles and...
- Two-year-old girl ‘was left with horrific cuts and a...
- How the Shawshank prisoners seduced 'flirtatious' married...
- It's Hillary - officially! Clinton gets the delegates needed...
- The emotional moment firefighters salute Bretagne - the last...
If it formed in 2013 and as the article states it a...
by Parade 25