The mystery of the Patomsky crater in Russia

Is this strange curiosity in Russia the result of a volcanic eruption, the fall of a meteorite or the crash of an alien ship?

In Russia and elsewhere on our planet, we know that there are geological mysteries, earthly events that occur that we ignore the cause or that seem simply wonderful to us. The mystery of the Patomsky crater also leaves no difference; For very long years, the population questioned the origin of this crater not like the others.

Is it the result of the fall of a meteorite? A volcanic eruption? A UFO crash? Of a natural erosion of terrestrial soil?

A 60-year-old discovery

The discovery of the Patomsky crater dates from 1949 by geologist Vladimir Kolpakov and this geological phenomenon remains to date one of the most intriguing natural formations in the world. No one knows how this crater rose.

It was only in 1971 that the crater was photographed in aerial capture and height. The crater is located to the East of the Irkutsk region , about 200 km from the first inhabited places.

What does the Patomsky crater look like?

Overlooking the green taïga, a grey dome formed of an irregular truncated cone rises from the ground, as if it had been cut to its top horizontally.

Its dimensions are astonishing: a height of 70 meters, an outer diameter of 180 meters, the diameter of the truncated platform is 86 meters and the approximate weight of all stones displaced to 1 million tons is estimated.

Dmitri Gladkotchoud, Director of the Institute of Terrestrial Cork, explained in 2012 to Sputnik that the mount had been named "crater" by mistake: “When talking about a crater, one assumes a cavity. In this case, it is earlier a cone, that is, there is a positive form of relief. Then, the crater usually appears following the fall of celestial bodies » .

Within the Patomsky crater, more than 200 centenary trees with deciduous leaves have been developed, and it has been noted that there is a strong magnetic field around the crater that stimulates the growth of trees.

What's his origin?

In addition to its unusual form for a crater, the Patomsky crater questions its origin. The first explanation would be to say that this is the result of a volcanic process, but there are no traces of lava or post-volcanic phenomena usually observed. The results of the research following several shipments revealed a volcano that could be caused by steam and instant gas releases. It could be about cryovolcanism dating from the time of the small glacial age.

The second explanation would be the result of an impact of a meteorite, but the form of the crater is unusual and we find only this kind of crater... on other planets or even on the Moon.

Finally, a last explanation that will appeal to ufologists is precisely the presence of an extra-terrestrial object plunged to more than 600 metres of depth.

Measurements based on measurements of magnetic fields have demonstrated the presence of a non-ferrous cylindrical-shaped object but containing a titanium alloy and a length of 600 metres for a diameter of 3 metres.

For the most curious of you, the Patomsky crater is always visible. Baptized the “Nest of the fire eagle”, he never ceased to question. Will you make your own opinion?

Main photo credit: EGU – Dmitry Semenov