Un'Goro Crater in the Future

Un’Goro Crater is, as its name suggests, a crater. This means that it was formed when something, like a meteor, impacted the earth and left the hole. The force of the impact pushed up the earth around the site forming mountains around the edge of the crater. It also cracked open the earth, allowing a volcano to form in the center of the crater. Over time the crater developed a thriving tropical climate and was able to develop trees and river systems. The abundant plant life has attributed greatly to the decay of the rocks in the crater because they grow on every possible surface and the roots are degrading the rock they grow on.  The crater is full of animal life and contains a rich ecosystem.

 

A view of the Un'Goro Crater tropical ecosystem. Photo credit: Paige Okamoto

Un’Goro Crater 10,000 Years From Now

After 10,000 years nothing will have changed very drastically in the crater. Some of the mountainous peaks around the edge of the crater may have begun to show more signs of decay. There are many forms of rock decay present currently and they will continue to breakdown the rock as time wares on.

Tanaris is a desert located next to Un’Goro Crater, it is possible that over years, sand from the desert could start filling in the crater. This phenomenon is seen in Wolfe Creek Crater located in Australia where sand has partially obscured the crater.

Tanaris Desert in location to Un'Goro Crater. Photo credit: Paige Okamoto

  Un’Goro Crater 1,000,000 Years From Now

After 1,000,000 years there will be a more drastic change than 10,000 years. The continental plates will have moved about 15 miles. Depending on where the boundaries are, this could mean that the crater is split apart.

It is also probable that the volcano will have erupted at least once. Eruptions can occur between every 10,000 to 30,000 years so multiple eruptions could have occurred. Multiple eruptions would be able to put down large amounts of lava, slowly filling the crater with volcanic rock and ash. 

What the eventual eruption may look like. Photo credit: PC Gamer.

Also, the world would have gone through multiple glacial cycles at this point. Currently, Un’Goro Crater is in an interglacial period. This is known because Thousand Needles, the coastal area located next to the crater, recently flooded and it now under the sea. This happened when the glaciers melted, raising sea levels. The sea level could have risen even more around the crater.

Thousand Needles before and after glacier melt and rising sea levels. Photo credit: Tenton Hammer.

Un’Goro Crater 100,000,000 Years From Now

By now, the plates will have moved around 1600 miles from where they are currently. This means that the entire continent Kalimdor could be a different place. This means that Un’Goro Crater could have a completely different climate. If the plate that the crater is located on collided with another, the mountains surrounding the crater could have grown in height from the impact. 

The crater’s volcano will have erupted more and will continue filling the crater. 

Ultimately, the crater will keep filling with organic material and the mountainous boundaries will keep decaying. The crater will eventually be flat earth.

References 

http://www.universetoday.com/19616/earths-10-most-impressive-impact-craters/

volcano.oregonstate.edu/how-often-do-volcanoes-erupt