"The Gates of Hell" Burning for 50 Years

Located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan, Central Asia is the Darvaza natural gas field known as the “Gates To Hell”. This is one of the most notable locations in the Turkmenistan region as this fiery pit has been burning continuously for the past 50 years.

This gate to hell was not created by nature but was created by a mistake during a geological exploration in 1971 by Soviet scientists. Initially, scientists thought it was an oil field and they set up a drilling rig to conduct exploratory drilling and evaluate the reserves in the field. However, it was actually a giant natural gas field, so the ground under the drilling rig and the camp area collapsed. Although there were no human casualties, the entire ground under the drill after collapsing created a giant deep hole with a diameter of about 70 m.

Geologists deliberately set fire to the crater to prevent the spread of methane gas, which could poison people living in the area and cause a greenhouse effect. They also believed that the gas in the crater was only enough to burn for a few weeks. However, the fire has been going on since 1971 and to this day, it has not stopped burning.

The Turkmen government was concerned that the appearance of the Darvaza crater would cause a wave of negative public opinion. Therefore, many meetings were held to discuss the complete extinguishing of this crater. However, contrary to that concern, Gates To Hell has stimulated the curiosity of many people and gradually become the most famous tourist destination in the region.

There are no guesthouses or hotels in the Karakum Desert near the crater, so visitors must stay in a traditional yurt located about 200 meters south of the crater. All yurts are locally owned and locked when not occupied. Visitors can also pitch tents in the designated area or choose a homestay in the village of Derweze, about 7 kilometers from the crater, for $10 a night.

My Tong