The "Door to Hell"
The “Door to Hell”
The Darvaza gas crater, famously dubbed the “Door to Hell,” is a remarkable and somewhat unsettling site located in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan. Its fiery existence began in 1971 during a Soviet geological expedition. While drilling for natural gas, the ground beneath a drilling rig collapsed, creating a large crater approximately 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter.
Concerned about the potential release of toxic methane gas into the atmosphere, the geologists made a decision to set the escaping gas on fire, anticipating that it would burn out within a few weeks. However, over five decades later, the crater continues to burn relentlessly, creating a dramatic and eerie spectacle, particularly at night when the fiery glow illuminates the surrounding desert landscape.
The intense heat and the constant flames have created a unique microenvironment within and around the crater, although it remains largely inhospitable to most forms of life. The “Door to Hell” has become an unintended tourist attraction, drawing curious visitors from around the world who come to witness this unusual and persistent inferno. The Turkmen government has, at various times, considered ways to extinguish the fire, both for environmental reasons – as it represents a continuous loss of natural gas, a valuable resource – and for safety concerns.
However, these efforts have so far been unsuccessful, and the crater continues to burn as a testament to a decision made in haste decades ago. The geological context of the area, rich in natural gas deposits, explains the sustained fuel source for the fire. Methane gas, being lighter than air, rises to the surface through porous rock formations, and the open crater provides a continuous vent for its release. The ongoing combustion highlights the challenges and unforeseen consequences that can arise from industrial activities, particularly in geologically active or resource-rich regions. The “Door to Hell” serves as a potent symbol of both human intervention in natural processes and the enduring power of geological forces.
The driest place on Earth is Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys.
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