The world's biggest permafrost crater is expanding at a rate of 30 meters every year. Located in Siberia, Russia, the Batagaika Crater now stretches roughly 1 kilometer long and 100 meters deep. Seen from space by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite, the collapsed terrain looks like a giant tadpole or stingray with symmetrical fins and a tail pointing northeast.
A scar on the tundra that keeps getting bigger
The crater sits in the remote landscape of Siberia, near the small settlement of Batagay, home to just over 4,000 people. Scientists say the rapid expansion began only a few decades ago. Two factors drive the growth: deforestation and warmer temperatures. When the ice inside the crater melts, it either evaporates or drains away, leaving behind sediments that collapse. The result is a massive slump that local people call the "Gateway to Hell."
Ancient ice, modern consequences
Batagaika's permafrost has been frozen for tens of thousands of years. As it thaws, the crater releases methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, adding to greenhouse gas emissions. Occasionally, Ice Age fossils and mummified wildlife emerge from the melting ground. While the surrounding tundra stays green with shrubs and larch trees, the steep slopes of the crater remain bare and brown.
A river that never stays still
About a kilometer northwest of the crater, a small hill rises. Further north, the Yana River flows more than 870 kilometers across Russia, meandering past Batagay. The river's course has shifted dramatically over time through sediment deposition and erosion, sometimes forming oxbow lakes. These natural processes create the intricate shapes visible in the satellite image.
The Batagaika Crater is a clear sign that permafrost is not permanent. Its growth shows how quickly frozen ground can change when the balance tips.
