EPISODE · Dec 20, 2025 · 4 MIN
The Siberian Snowman: A 14-Mile Line of Arctic Lakes From Space
from Intellectually Curious · host Mike Breault
NASA’s Earth Observatory spotlights a surreal 22-kilometer chain of five pale-blue thermokarst lakes near Billings on Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. The pattern isn’t surface snow but underground ice wedges melting in summer, causing the ground to slump into a line that winds and waves slowly align end-to-end. From orbit you can see this dramatic natural sculpture and its scale—about 14 miles long, far longer than any real snowman. We unpack how permafrost and wind shape landscapes, the history of Arctic exploration with Commodore Joseph Billings and the Chukchi people, and what this teaches us about recognizing patterns and innovating with nature.Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information.Sponsored by Embersilk LLC
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NASA’s Earth Observatory spotlights a surreal 22-kilometer chain of five pale-blue thermokarst lakes near Billings on Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. The pattern isn’t surface snow but underground ice wedges melting in summer, causing the ground to slump into a line that winds and waves slowly align end-to-end. From orbit you can see this dramatic natural sculpture and its scale—about 14 miles long, far longer than any real snowman. We unpack how permafrost and wind shape landscapes, the history ...
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The Siberian Snowman: A 14-Mile Line of Arctic Lakes From Space
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