The Batagay crater, also referred to as Batagaika, is an expanding thermokarst depression in Siberia, Russia, revealing ancient permafrost layers due to climate change.
About the Batagay (Batagaika) crater:
- Formed due to permafrost thawing, it is often referred to as the “gateway to the underworld,” “the cave-in,” and megaslump.
- It features a rounded cliff face and uneven terrain at the base.
- As the world’s largest permafrost crater, it started sinking in the 1960s after nearby deforestation.
- The crater’s thawed soil, containing organic carbon (including Ice Age fossils), releases greenhouse gases, intensifying Earth’s warming.
Ref: Source
| UPSC IAS Preparation Resources | |
| Current Affairs Analysis | Topperspedia |
| GS Shots | Simply Explained |
| Daily Flash Cards | Daily Quiz |