The Crater from the 1908 Siberian Explosion has been Found

On June 30, 1908 an explosion occured in Siberia that released 15 megatons of energy(a thousand times of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima). This explosion occured about 6 miles above ground and flattened 770 square miles of forest (this is about how much land burned in the recent California fires and it is an area 1/2 the size of Rhode Island) ! An expedition in 1999 explored Lake Cheko which is about 5 miles north of the suspected epicenter. This lake has an unusual funnel shape and it is long and narrow. By testing the sediments, it is believed that this is where the largest piece that was left after the explosion impacted the earth and slid in as it were (kind of like Superman's pod when he was a baby.

There are still a lot of questions. Why aren't there bits and pieces of extraterresterial matter found around the lake as is normal in other crater impacts? Other scientists had previously ruled out the lake as a possible impact crater filled in with water because their studies of the sediments led them to believe it was a centuries old lake.

The team of scientists that believe this is indeed the impact spot plan to go back this year and take more sediment sample from the lake bottom and hopefully provide a final solution to this century old mystery!

Hat Tip: National Geographic.