Winter inside the Yamal crater
November 13, 2014 12:10 PM   Subscribe

The Yamal Crater (previously) mysteriously appeared on the Yamal Peninsula in northern Siberia sometime in early 2014. Thought to be the result of methane accumulation in thawing permafrost, when first discovered the giant hole was too dangerous for people to enter. Now that the ground has frozen, scientists have explored the hole and released a a set of otherworldly photographs documenting their expedition.
posted by Rumple (27 comments total) 21 users marked this as a favorite
 
Wait...I've seen this movie...
posted by damnitkage at 12:13 PM on November 13, 2014 [4 favorites]


If you dig a hole that's deep enough, everyone will want to jump into it.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:17 PM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


wait, they couldn't tell there was a lake in there before-hand ? Angle of viewing or unstable edges, I can get, but figure all the fly-over pictures would have noticed that easily enough ?

Still, intriguing - was the water upwelling, or filled the crater ?
posted by k5.user at 12:25 PM on November 13, 2014


"As of now we don't see anything dangerous in the sudden appearance of such holes."

I'm just going to stand waaaaaaaaay over here.
posted by Kabanos at 12:26 PM on November 13, 2014 [8 favorites]


Did you know that the hole's only natural enemy is the pile?
posted by msbutah at 12:29 PM on November 13, 2014 [26 favorites]


But the hole and the pile need each other. Neither can exist without the other. Theirs is a delicate dance of life and death, creation and destruction, and... stuff.
posted by Naberius at 12:38 PM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


I think I've killed so many ice wraiths there.
posted by The Whelk at 12:40 PM on November 13, 2014 [3 favorites]


I am always delighted to see articles from one of my most favourite sources, the Siberian Times.
posted by poffin boffin at 12:56 PM on November 13, 2014 [6 favorites]


So, no goatse jokes this time?

Mmmm, frozen goatse.
posted by chavenet at 1:03 PM on November 13, 2014


"A science team measured methane concentrations up to 50,000 times standard levels inside the crater."

This sounds like my bed in the morning. What just woke up from that hole?!
posted by orme at 1:10 PM on November 13, 2014 [2 favorites]


Looks like the ant hive entrance from Them(!).
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 1:14 PM on November 13, 2014


Christ, what an ice hole.
posted by Kabanos at 1:15 PM on November 13, 2014 [30 favorites]


Those scientists are mad - gaping earth maws should be avoided in all seasons. This definitely reactivated my sinkholeophobia which had been dormant for a bit.

Shouldn't they put a fence around that thing or something? Think of the hapless ruminants.
posted by madamjujujive at 1:16 PM on November 13, 2014


Those photos are amazing. I suspect that they'll bore down and find the frozen body of Mulder.
posted by arcticseal at 1:18 PM on November 13, 2014


One day, after a decade of global warming and regional conflict, Bane will be born down there.
posted by crapmatic at 1:25 PM on November 13, 2014


Sigha. Those photographs are not otherworldly. They need to throw a photographer in with the scientists. I volunteer.
posted by nevercalm at 1:30 PM on November 13, 2014 [3 favorites]




Loaded with kerosene. I count 15 cans.

MacReady! - Mac, get your gear on.

It may not clear up for a week, and we're the closest to 'em.

It's all right by me, Doc. I'm just letting you know we're taking a chance.

Quit griping, MacReady.
posted by valkane at 1:50 PM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


They should add this mod to Kerbal Space Program.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:57 PM on November 13, 2014


No sign of Sadu-Hem or mad meditating monks: it looks like we're safe from the plagues of frogmen for a while yet.
posted by bonehead at 2:12 PM on November 13, 2014 [3 favorites]


I saw enough holes like that in Northrend, thanks.
posted by Moody834 at 2:56 PM on November 13, 2014


Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:46 PM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


'As of now we don't see anything dangerous in the sudden appearance of such hooooooooooooooooles."
posted by Room 641-A at 5:07 PM on November 13, 2014


Experts are working on a theory that gas hydrates caused underground explosions in the same way as eruptions under the Atlantic Ocean creative journalists may have led to the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon.
posted by stinkfoot at 5:15 PM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


So the cold keeps the sarlacc dormant?
posted by threecheesetrees at 10:59 PM on November 13, 2014 [1 favorite]


I see canyon forms in the distance, maybe deep flows from the tundra melt have carved new channels underground facilitating cavern type situations for methane to fill, less stable than a more diffuse concentration frozen in place.
posted by Oyéah at 3:37 PM on November 14, 2014


In other recent "Big Hole in Russia" News, the collapse of a flooded mine in Solikamsk has created a huge crater.
posted by Kabanos at 8:43 AM on November 20, 2014


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