The Tunguska Event

On June 30, 1908, something exploded over the remote Tunguska region of Siberia with the force of 10-15 megatons of TNT, flattening approximately 800 square miles of forest. The blast was detected by seismic stations worldwide, but no crater or significant debris has ever been found.

The Explosion

At approximately 7:14 AM local time, a brilliant flash lit the sky, followed by an enormous explosion. Witnesses described a column of fire. Trees were knocked down in a radial pattern covering 830 square miles. Windows were shattered hundreds of miles away.

The Aftermath

The remote location delayed investigation for decades. When scientists finally surveyed the area in 1927, they found millions of trees felled in a butterfly-shaped pattern, but no crater. Trees at the epicenter remained standing but stripped of branches.

The Mystery

The lack of a crater suggested an airburst explosion before impact. The absence of significant meteorite fragments puzzled researchers. The explosion released energy equivalent to hundreds of Hiroshima bombs.

Theories

Most scientists believe a comet or asteroid exploded in the atmosphere. More speculative theories have proposed antimatter, a miniature black hole, or even a nuclear-powered alien spacecraft exploding. None has been conclusively proven.

Assessment

The Tunguska Event was the largest impact event in recorded history. While most scientists accept a natural explanation, the lack of physical evidence keeps alternative theories alive over a century later.