Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vladimir Kolpakov and despite many years of questioning and research, this crater located in Russia, east of the Irkutsk region, still intrigues on the reasons for its formation.
The Patomsky crater is one of the most intriguing geological formations in the world, no definitive answer can be given about the reasons for its elevation. In 1971 he was photographed for the first time. Located in the middle of the taiga and 200 km from the nearest dwellings, it extends with a diameter of 180 m and a height of 70 m for a total weight of rocks estimated at 1 million tons . In addition, a strong magnetic field surrounds the crater and stimulates the growth of trees. We can therefore observe 200 century-old deciduous trees populating the interior of this crater.
The director of the Institute of the Earth’s crust, Dmitri Gladkotchoud, explained in 2012 that designating this mount as a “crater” is a mistake: “ When we speak of a crater, we assume a cavity. In this case, it is earlier a cone, that is, there is a positive shape of the relief. Then the crater usually appears as a result of falling celestial bodies.”
In addition to its unusual shape, it is above all its origin that raises questions. A first hypothesis supposes that it would have appeared because of a volcanic activity. According to research, it could be cryovolcanism dating from the time of the Little Ice Age.
Another explanation is that it is a meteorite impact, but this kind of crater has only been observed on other planets and on the moon for example. The presence of a non-ferrous object of cylindrical shape, but containing a titanium alloy and 600 meters long for a diameter of 3 meters revealed by magnetic field measurements offers another explanation: the presence of an extraterrestrial body immersed in more than 600 m deep.
This crater is always visible if you feel like going there, and form your own opinion on its origin.
A 60-year-old discovery
The discovery of the Patomsky crater dates back to 1949 by geologist Vladimir Kolpakov and this geological phenomenon remains to this day one of the most intriguing natural formations in the world. No one knows how this crater arose.
It was not until 1971 that the crater was photographed from the air and from this height. The crater is located in the very east of the Irkutsk region , nearly 200 km from the first inhabited places.
What does the Patomsky crater look like?
Overlooking the verdant taiga, a gray dome formed of an irregular truncated cone rises from the ground, as if it had been cut horizontally at its top.
Its dimensions are staggering: a height of 70 meters, an external diameter of 180 meters, the diameter of the truncated platform is 86 meters and the approximate weight of all the stones moved is estimated at 1 million tons.
Dmitri Gladkotchoud, the director of the Institute of the Earth’s crust, explained in 2012 to Sputnik that the mount had been named “crater” by mistake: “When we speak of a crater, we assume a cavity. In this case, it is earlier a cone, that is to say, there is a positive shape of the relief. Then, the crater usually appears following the fall of celestial bodies .
Inside the Patomsky crater grew more than 200 century-old deciduous trees and it was noticed that there was a strong magnetic field around the crater which stimulated the growth of trees.
What is its origin ?
In addition to its unusual shape for a crater, the Patomsky crater raises questions about its origin. The first explanation would be to assert that it is the result of a volcanic process but there are no traces of lava or post-volcanic phenomena usually observed anywhere. The results of research following several expeditions have made it possible to highlight a volcano which could be caused by steam and instantaneous releases of gas. It could be cryovolcanism dating from the time of the Little Ice Age.
The second explanation would be the result of a meteorite impact but the shape of the crater is unusual and we only find 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 extraterrestrial object plunged more than 600 meters deep.
Measurements made from magnetic field measurements demonstrated the presence of a non-ferrous object of cylindrical shape but containing a titanium alloy and 600 meters long with a diameter of 3 meters.
For the most curious among you, the Patomsky crater is still visible. Baptized the “Fire Eagle’s Nest”, it never ceases to question. Will you make up your own mind?
