Time and History 12:17 A.M. Explosion at the Tunguska River

About major and minor historical events around the clock such as the explosion at the Tunguska River in Siberia, Russia at 12:17 in the morning.

HISTORY AROUND THE CLOCK

12:17 in the Morning

June 30, 1908. One of the most baffling natural catastrophes in history occurred in the area of Vanavara on the Stony Tunguska River in Siberia. A massive explosion totally devastated an area of 1,500 sq. mi. Scientists have attributed the explosion to a comet or meteorites, though recently a more imaginative guess has suggested the holocaust was caused by antimatter. Two small villages disappeared in the explosion, millions of forest trees were blown down, and thousands of reindeer perished. Perhaps the most surprising feature of this mysterious catastrophe was that, although the shock was felt more than 600 mi. away, Russian scientists did not bother to investigate until 1927.