The "navel" of Utah has puzzled scientists for nearly 20 years: what makes this mysterious "bubble" so special?

Upheaval Dome, which translates literally to "upturned dome," is a massive rock formation located in the southeastern part of Utah. This remarkable site is also referred to as the "navel" of Utah and has become a true "bone of contention" among scientists — since its discovery, researchers have been unable to determine its origin, as reported by Live Science.

In 2007, astronauts aboard the International Space Station photographed the rock formation from a bird's-eye view, prompting comparisons of the giant dome to a "navel." Since the discovery of Upheaval Dome, there have been two theories regarding its origin, although most scientists believe it was created by an ancient meteorite impact. However, not all experts support this theory.

Upheaval Dome spans 5 kilometers in diameter and reaches a height of 300 meters. The origin of this site is highly contentious, but the presence of shock quartz crystals suggests that the dome formed after a meteorite struck the Earth approximately 60 million years ago.

Geologists prefer the idea that the meteorite impact initially left a bowl-shaped depression in the ground. The edges of this depression were unstable and eventually collapsed, allowing the underlying rocks to rise and fill the void, creating the ridge-like structure we observe today.

There are also opponents of this theory, who suggest that Upheaval Dome was formed by a salt dome rising beneath layers of sandstone in southeastern Utah. It is worth noting that a thick layer of salt, originating from ancient enclosed seas, lies beneath Canyonlands National Park. Salt is relatively light and can move through rocks, similar to how ice can move at the bottom of a glacier, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

Additionally, it is known that salt is less dense than sandstone, which could have created a massive "bubble" that pushed the rocks outward during its ascent. At the same time, researchers note that Upheaval Dome is unlikely to be a salt bubble covered by sandstone, as erosion has likely worn away several layers from the structure over many centuries.

Instead, scientists believe that the center of the dome is considered a rocky foundation that formed beneath the salt bubble due to rocks falling into cracks along the edges of the bubble. Researchers think that the rocks likely rolled down the sides of the bubble and accumulated beneath the salt, forming the rocky structure that is observed today.

If the salt bubble theory is correct, it would make Upheaval Dome the most deeply eroded salt structure in the world. However, the discovery of shocked quartz crystals is the latest published investigation into the origin of Upheaval Dome. Scientists will likely need to continue their research to ultimately resolve this dispute.