Rappelling Researchers Explore Mysterious Siberian Sinkhole

A group of rappelling researchers explored a mysterious giant sinkhole in northern Siberia's Yamal Peninsula this week, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists for months, revealing photos that could explain how the massive chasm formed.

Using climbing equipment, scientists from Russian Center of Arctic Exploration plunged 54 feet (10.5 meters) into one of three giant holes, which for unexplained reasons suddenly opened up in July. Eventually they reached the bottom - a region appropriately called the "end of the world."

"We managed to go down into the funnel, all was successful," Vladimir Pushkarev, director of the Russian Centre of Arctic Exploration and the leader of the mission, told The Siberian Times. "We took all the probes we planned, and made measurements. Now scientists need time to process all the data and only then can they draw conclusions."

Right now, researchers believe gas hydrates caused underground explosions that led to the formation of these craters, but soon they may know for sure. Experts relate the gas hydrates to be similar to the ones observed around the mysterious Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean, which can be the center of many unexplained events.

"I've heard about this Bermuda Triangle idea, but I repeat, our scientists need to work on materials first and only then draw some definite conclusions. At the moment we don't have enough information," Pushkarev noted.

The research team has already performed radiolocation tests at a depth of 200 meters, as well as is taking samples of ice, ground, air and gases found in the crater. Next they plan to explore surrounding regions and compare their images with those taken from space in the 1980s in a bid to understand if there were or are similar objects nearby.

"As of now we don't see anything dangerous in the sudden appearance of such holes," Pushkarev added, "but we've got to study them properly to make absolutely sure we understand the nature of their appearance and don't need to be afraid about them."