"Russia's Massive Permafrost Crater Expands Amid Global Warming"
The Batagaika crater, the world's largest permafrost crater in Russia's Far East, is expanding at an alarming rate due to the warming climate, according to scientists. The crater, also known as the "gateway to the underworld," formed after the surrounding forest was cleared in the 1960s, causing the permafrost underground to melt and the land to sink. Thawing permafrost in Russia is releasing greenhouse gases stored in the soil, exacerbating global warming. The rapid growth of the crater is a sign of danger, as more mega-slumps are expected to form in the future until all the permafrost is gone. Thawing permafrost has already caused damage to infrastructure and disrupted communities in northern Russia.