Back to Events
Tunguska Event
On June 30, 1908, something exploded over Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima bombs, flattening 80 million trees across 830 square miles. No crater was found. The official explanation is a meteor airburst, but the lack of fragments and strange phenomena continue to fuel alternate theories.
1908
Siberia, Russia
100+ witnesses
The most powerful explosion in recorded history remains mysterious.
The Event
June 30, 1908:
- 7:17 AM local time
- Tunguska River area
- Siberia, Russia
- Remote wilderness
- Massive explosion
The Force
Destruction:
- 15 megaton yield
- 1,000 Hiroshimas
- 80 million trees flattened
- 830 square miles affected
- Seismic waves worldwide
No Crater
The mystery:
- Airburst at 5-10 km altitude
- No impact crater
- No meteor fragments
- Trees pointed outward
- Center trees standing
The Witnesses
Local observations:
- Indigenous Evenki people
- Saw bright light
- Felt blast wave
- Knocked off feet
- Buildings damaged
The Investigation
Years later:
- First expedition 1927
- Leonid Kulik
- Found devastation
- No fragments recovered
- Mystery deepened
The Theories
Explanations proposed:
- Meteor airburst (official)
- Comet ice
- Antimatter
- UFO crash
- Tesla experiment