Earth Changes: Mysterious ‘Doorway To The Underworld’ in Switzerland Rapidly Growing In Size
The permafrost ground near the Yana River Basin has been warming lately, causing large scale changes in the local topography and ecology. The tadpole-shaped crater, called the Batagaika crater, is known as a “megaslump” and is related to karsting triggered through permafrost melting. Currently, the crater measures 0.6 miles long and 282 feet deep. However, the crater’s growth has increased recently prompting locals to nickname it the “doorway to the underworld” and to avoid the area. Permafrost is ground which remains at or below freezing temperatures for more than two years. This is common in the high latitudes of Siberia where average yearly temperatures prevent warming of the ground to above freezing. FULL STORY
Switzerland Struck with Largest Earthquake In 12 Years
cantons of Glarus and Schwyz told news agency ATS they received dozens of calls from worried residents who felt the quake. The SED said it received reports that the quake was also felt in the cantons of Bern, Aargau, Zurich and Graubünden. So many people visited the SED’s website after the earthquake that it crashed, said the service About a dozen aftershocks were detected after the main event, with more to be expected in the coming days. FULL REPORT
Massive Sinkhole Swallows House In South Africa Prompting Fears
Residents say another massive sinkhole close by, opened up last year. A homeowner, Papi Magwaza said, “I have spent about half a million on my property, all my 16 years of work. Now I have to start all over again. Officials don’t care. I want to be compensated because officials have been negligent, This is not a natural disaster, it’s man made. They should have looked after leaking pipes as this area is dolomitic.” CONTINUE
Major earthquake ‘Certain’ to hit Southern California
because in Southern California, the Big Bend, Carrizo, and Mojave sections of the San Andreas Fault accommodate 50-70% of plate motion. This means that the seismic hazard is high,” according to Temblor. To understand the size and likelihood of future earthquakes striking the area, the researchers looked into the past, by digging more than 30 trenches to trace ancient temblors. “To get 1,200 years of records, we have to do lots of excavations and go quite deep,” said the study’s lead author, USGS research geologist Kate Scharer, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times. READ MORE
Planet X Incoming: Birth Pangs (January 2017)