Few people know that in Kazakhstan scientists have discovered one of the largest anomalous zones in the world: on the site of the former Semipalatinsk polygon are heat spot on the earth in the shape of a dragon. This discovery aroused great interest.

A few years scientists have been puzzling over the nature of its origin. Versions were many. Perhaps anomaly has generated a nuclear test or underground works "natural stove" - seam of coal? Maybe it is generally experiments extraterrestrial civilizations? Otherwise why there is no snow and no grass grow? But the main question which disturbs: what can be the consequences of this anomaly?

"Sleeping dragon" - so called scientists anomalous thermal zone around the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site is clearly visible from space.

The outlines of thermal spots really like sleeping monster. It was first found in 1997, the specialists of the Institute of space research of the RK, and it happened by accident. Employees worked for the study of snow cover for the Ministry of agriculture. From space images were acquired, which could clearly see the black spot, which, for unknown reasons, was covered with snow. Since then anomaly began to follow. But "sleeping dragon" asked scientists new puzzles. The main mystery is the temperature of the earth in the region of the Semipalatinsk polygon. In freezing winter temperatures here researchers recorded to +12 degrees Celsius.

Bomb information...

The sensational discovery of Kazakh scientists has caused quite a stir in academic circles, not only domestically, but also in Russia. Journalists, picked up the news, have turned it into a real "informational bomb": "the Russian side laid a "time bomb" - former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Ongoing mysterious thermal processes may be the result of the testing of nuclear weapons..." - wrote the Russian newspaper.

Versions about the origin of thermal spots, the area of which is nearly 20 thousand square meters, were very different from "divine hand" and "experiments aliens" to attempts scientific explanation of this unique phenomenon. For several years the scientists ' attention was focused on the anomalous zone. It was planned to hold the expedition with participation of specialists from Kazakhstan, Russia, USA and Japan. But soon disputes about the mysterious "dragon" quieted down, and research results remained a mystery to the public.

15 years later after the opening of the anomalous zone in the region of the Semipalatinsk test site, we tried to find out what could "dig" scientists. It turned out that many of those who engaged in this question, already moved from Kazakhstan. But the "sleeping dragon" all this time were kept under control and monitored his behavior.

Surveillance of the anomaly

Specialists of the Institute of space research did a great job, the results of which were presented last year in Moscow at the all-Russian public meeting. That managed to find professionals, we asked experts.

The first pictures were taken in winter. We saw that in the vast territory reason not snow, it stands out as a dark spot. Thus the heat spot appears in certain months, from December to March, in November, even if the snow is falling, it was not shown. We also conducted monitoring in the summer, and clearly saw that in the same territory is the area, where no grass grow. Although this area is closer to the Northern regions, then, in fact, there should be a very rich vegetation, " said lead researcher of the Institute Irina VITKOVSKAYA, showing us space images "sleeping dragon". After these discoveries we went to the "hunting the dragon", began to observe his behavior during the year and collected data for several years. The most complete show "dragon" in 1998. During this period, the area was the largest over the observed period, we recorded its borders.

Great commotion caused first assumption is that thermal spot can be moved. As if he had under the ground there are mysterious processes, the results of which are not presently known to us, and they wander in search of the way out. But after observations, scientists have come to conclusion, that the boundaries of the spots vary depending on the intensity of snow cover.

In addition to images of vegetation and snow in this area, the scientists also took photographs of so-called thermal range.

- The day we have not fixed the changes, as the earth warmed by the sun, but at night signalled its own surface temperature and saw thermal spots, the experts say.

Another mystery, which is still not solved: every night over the "dragon" hangs a cloud of smoke. As if the sky is trying to hide the secrets of the anomalous zone.

Is not continuous cover, and weak haze. We assume that it is connected either with the night winds or fumes from Pavlodar TETS, the experts say.

In General, to solve the mystery of the anomalous zone, as can be seen, scientists have collected all the information together - data on tectonic faults, the borders of explosions at the site and carried out the analysis. The findings came as a surprise...

Nuclear explosions woke "dragon"?

One of the most "loud" versions of occurrence of anomalies in the landfill area is nuclear explosions. Here's what he wrote Russian scientific publications about this:

"The newest geothermal processes developing on the territory of former nuclear sites, concerned about geologists and geophysicists. Experts are inclined to consider, that sharp increase of the temperature of the soil and rocks on the areas of test sites associated with the formation of a kind of a swelling in the earth's crust".

However, Kazakhstani scientists questioned the conclusion that the cause of the anomaly could become a nuclear test.

- Because the spot was found on the territory of the Semipalatinsk test site, it immediately caused a certain assumptions about the causes of its appearance, " says head of the laboratory of the space research Institute Madina BATYRBAEVA. "But the shots that we made, can be seen clearly: spot outside the polygon, and this raises doubts about its origin.

The area of the Semipalatinsk polygon - 18.5 thousand square kilometers, "sleeping dragon" is not on its entire territory and along the ridge of his head" and "tail" go far beyond the borders.

Also the scientists compared the sites where tested with the data on heat-spots. One such spot coincided with the area of Degelen, here under the mountain has made over 200 explosions. But in the Balapan area, where there were more than 100 explosions, and on-site Murzhik (25 explosions) temperature anomalies were detected. But the heat spot is on the Western border of the polygon.

We asked the opinion about the origin of the thermal anomaly at the head of the Centre for integrated environmental research INP NNC RK Victor GLUSHCHENKO:

- Thermal anomalies wander, and this spot happened to be on the territory of the Semipalatinsk polygon. It's just geophysical phenomenon and the landfill is not relevant, " he said.

In the Institute of radiation safety and ecology, which was created after the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site to study the consequences, believe that no thermal anomaly at all. Director of the Institute Sergey LUKASHENKO expressed this opinion:

- There is the picture, which is interpreted as the presence of a thermal anomaly. We carried out surveys, measurements on the ground. On the territory there is a local small anomalies. Size in square kilometer. When conducting nuclear tests cavity remains hot for a long time, tens of years. And a small temperature changes are present. It is worth mentioning some of the processes in coal seams, occurring in these places. There is a suspicion that goes underground destruction, there are signs of a gas release...

About anomalies knew our ancestors

Although scientists are not acknowledge the existence of anomalies on the Semipalatinsk test site, some scientists believe that it is. But historians are of the opinion that this spot was known by our ancestors! They have noticed the special features of this land and considered him godforsaken place. Shepherds have long known that mysterious piece of land is not growing grass. Therefore drove the cattle away from "dead" the earth and had not given here Parking.

Scientists from the space research Institute managed to find the facts that dragon" existed long before the emergence of the Semipalatinsk polygon.
We have studied literary sources. Find the Atlas of 1935, which was made after the expedition, organized by the Academy of Sciences. And there's this zone is allocated on meteorological characteristics, it is marked as an area of high temperatures.

If this anomaly knew, questions arise: why here posted a nuclear test site? I wanted to hide in a sensitive area? We probably will never know. But the main question remains: what "surprises" can give the "sleeping dragon"? Despite years of research, scientists have not figured out the main elements...

Such conclusions were made by scientists of the Institute of space research and presented at the conference in Moscow:
The analysis of long-term data of weather stations during the period from 1881 to 1935 showed that the thermal anomaly in this region is marked on all maps period December - March, long before the establishment of the landfill and carrying out nuclear explosions.

Snowless spot in the area is celebrated every year. The location and configuration of the spot almost unchanged, only change is in the area of snowless region.

The daily snapshots at the landfill site, in addition to temperature track, stretching along the main Chingiz fault, there are two stable center of high temperatures, does not coincide with the areas of underground nuclear explosions. The difference of temperatures in these areas with the background temperature is 6-7 degrees.

Perhaps we are dealing with integral effect caused by a complex of different reasons: it tectonic breaks, coal seams, nuclear explosions...

Alexandra Myskin