Scientists may have finally solved the mystery of giant exploding craters spotted in western Siberia, known to blast soil and ice hundreds of feet into the air. These craters, known as giant gas emission craters (GECs), were first spotted in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas of Western Siberia in 2012 and can be as deep as 164ft, spewing soil and ice hundreds of feet into the air. For over a decade, researchers have attempted to explain how these giant holes originated, with theories ranging from meteor impacts to natural gas explosions. “The recent discovery of eight gas escape craters in Western Siberia has challenged researchers for the past decade. Scientists hope to find more such craters in Siberia.