The Batagay crater in the Far East continues to expand, with the volume of frozen ground melting each year reaching up to one million cubic meters. The crater, known as “Hell’s Gate” and located in Siberia, is shrinking at a rate of 12 meters per year as frozen soil thaws. This rapid thawing is occurring in the Arctic and ice-rich terrain near the North Pole, resulting in significant ice and sediment loss from the crater due to its massive size.
Research published in the journal Geomorphology reveals that more than 14 Great Pyramids of Giza worth of ice and sediment have melted at Batagay’s rim since it collapsed. Melting rates have remained relatively stable over the past decade, primarily along the cliff face at the western, southern, and southeastern edges of the crater. The expansion and melting of Batagay highlight the impact of climate change on permafrost and the Arctic landscape.