One vast hole appearing in Siberia's frozen ground is a head-scratcher; 20 of them exploding through more than 500 feet of permafrost is downright baffling. That's the puzzle scientists have been wrestling with since 2014, when the first 100-foot-wide ...

A decade ago, a mysterious crater appeared in the Russian Arctic, forming a huge jagged hole hundreds of feet wide. Since then more than 20 have formed, leaving scientists baffled and intrigued

Mysterious Craters Suddenly Exploded Across Siberia, Leaves Scientists Baffled Decades ago, many mysterious, huge craters appeared in the Russian Arctic. Since 2014, over 20 of these craters have been found across Siberia’s Yamal and Gydan Peninsulas.

In the remote Siberian tundra, the ground itself has begun to explode. Since 2014, more than 20 mysterious craters, each hundreds of feet wide, have torn open the Russian Arctic’s permafrost, leaving behind jagged holes filled with inky darkness.

Scientists first noticed these mysterious craters emerging in 2014, when they encountered a hole in the Yamal Peninsula in Siberia, about 30 meters across (98.4 feet) and more than 50 meters deep, surrounded by ejecta that hinted at its explosive origins.

Since 2014, mysterious craters have started appearing in the northwestern part of Siberia. New holes in the ground are causing a significant stir, and researchers are trying to understand the mechanism of their formation.