There’s a “Door to Hell” on Earth – and It’s in Turkmenistan

The Karakum Desert of central Turkmenistan contains one of the most dramatic sights in the world, the Darvaza Gas Crater, which is commonly referred to as the Door to Hell. It is a giant pit that has burned for decades, and a surreal landscape of flames and heat is formed with endless sand. It has become a tourist attraction due to its bright orange colour.

It is situated at the entrance of the small village of Derweze (approximately 260 kilometres from Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan). It was approximately 69 metres in diameter and approximately 30 metres deep, and it started as a natural gas pocket located under the desert. During the drilling in the early 1970s, the ground caved in this hole, revealing vast amounts of methane gas. In order to avoid the dangerous emissions, the specialists chose to burn the gas, hoping that it would be extinguished within a short time. Rather, the fire has continued to burn since that time, nourished by the underground gas reserves.

Tourists come to the remote region to observe the fiery pit. The crater shines bright orange at night and is seen from a distance, and the heat emitted through the opening forms a surreal experience. The name of the door to hell refers to the feeling of being at the doorway of a huge furnace. It is remotely located but has become one of the most recognisable tourist sites in Turkmenistan, and the manifestation of natural force and human activity.

Authorities in Turkmenistan have also occasionally talked about ways to put out the fire because of environmental and safety reasons. The crater also releases methane, contributing to greenhouse gases, and the continuous burning also changes the local environment. At least, though, the fire is still raging and the Darvaza Gas Crater remains alive, being one of the most remarkable natural gas fields in the world.