A giant ‘ice volcano’ has recently appeared in the center of a remote village in Kazakhstan. The ‘ice volcano’ is believed to be the largest in the world, with a height of more than 45 feet. The explosion took place on 8 July when residents noticed that a massive cloud of gas had spread over the village. There were no signs of fire or smoke at the time and there is no evidence of dangerous flooding of the nearby lakes or rivers.
The authorities are investigating the explosion as a possible explosion caused by natural gas. They believe that the explosion was caused by a series of gas explosions, as opposed to a nuclear explosion. A 45-foot-high (mast) ‘ice volcano’ has reportedly been spotted in the centre of the village of Nagyar, close to the town of Pishtovka. The local residents say that the volcano is now a part of the local tourist trade.
Local officials say that a local mining firm has been trying to access the volcano for many years without success. The official website of the district of Norilskoy says that the ‘ice volcano’ is still under construction. The US State Department has issued a travel warning for tourists to exercise caution in the area. It advises Americans to avoid traveling to the region, as well as to carry out contingency planning in case of an emergency. The warning does not specify a possible threat to American citizens, but emphasizes that US officials are monitoring the situation very closely and to provide updates on a regular basis.
The 45-foot-tall ‘ice volcano’ is thought to be the biggest in the world according to reports. Local residents say that they don’t know anything about the volcano, but it sits right in the middle of their village. One villager told the media that when he went to buy milk one morning last week, the entire town had gone quiet. He said he didn’t see anyone around the main door of his house.
The 45-foot-tall ‘ice volcano’ is expected to be open to visitors sometime in 2021, but there’s no word on when it might open to public. The mine workers that are managing the mining are hoping to bring up to $2 million per year from the area, but according to the Economic news agency (Ena) of Kazakhstan, officials have approved a plan to build housing in the area. The officials say that the money will fund local schools, clinics and a tourist office.
An average person can walk on to the volcano, but a helicopter cannot get a clear view of it. When it does light up though, you can see it in all its glory. There are some nearby settlements, but not many. Traveling from the capital city of Astana to the region around the volcano will take you around 90 minutes. If you’re an avid explorer, you’ll find plenty to do there. There’s even a resort nearby where you can book a stay and experience the ‘ice volcano‘.
Image Credit: Irina Mironova/Instagram
