Thousands of viewers around the world watched amateur video of a giant meteorite exploding over Russia's Ural mountains, in February.

Today, a fragment of that meteorite has been lifted from the bottom of Lake Chebarkul - at a depth of 13 meters (42 feet).

Scientists say some features may indicate this 570 kilograms object is really the main part of the meteor.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DIRECTOR OF INNOVATIONS AND EXPERTISE CENTER OF CHELYABINSK UNIVERSITY, ANDREI KOCHEROV SAYING:

"If its weight is more than 500 kilograms then the object is unique in itself, and is likely to be one of the biggest meteorites of such class, like the stone type."

The preparations for lifting the meteorite from the lake took several weeks, with a cost equivalent to about $100,000 USD.

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