West Siberian Lowland: The world's largest peatland stores 70 billion tonnes of carbon and faces thaw risk

The West Siberian Lowland, spanning roughly 3 million square kilometers across central Russia, contains the world's largest peatland. Estimates of its area range from 592,440 to 900,000 square kilometers, larger than Texas. It stores about 70 billion metric tonnes of carbon, acting as a long term carbon sink since the early Holocene. Permafrost thaw across the region, driven by rising global temperatures, threatens to release stored carbon into the atmosphere. Heatwaves and wildfires further increase the risk. This creates a positive feedback loop where more greenhouse gases accelerate warming and additional thawing. The lowland supports diverse wildlife including brown bears, grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, and wolverines, along with migratory birds and amphibians adapted to harsh conditions. The area's role as both a carbon sink and potential source makes it a critical region for climate monitoring.