Did you know there's a 'door to hell' in Turkmenistan? Know about mysterious crater that still burns

In the midst of the vast Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, a fiery crater has been burning for nearly half a century. The area is called the Darvaza Gas Crater, commonly known as the "Door to Hell", and is a smouldering cavity, with flames dancing across its breadth. In recent months, there have been calls to find ways to extinguish the fire. Last year, the president of Turkmenistan urged its government to look for ways to put the fire out since it is causing major ecological damage and affecting the health of the people living in the area.

However, despite multiple efforts, the crater is still burning even to this date. The reason why the crater is still burning remains one of the most pertinent questions in modern times. The answers to this question will reflect the outlasting impact of the Soviet regime in Turkmenistan. Here’s everything you need to know about the Darvaza Gas Crater.

The origin of the Crater

The Darvaza Gas Crater comprises ravaging flames fueled by seeping natural gas that has been burning for decades. According to Nat Geo, the genesis of the crater dates back to the 1960s-1970s when Soviet geologists were on a quest to find oil reserves and accidentally breached a natural gas chamber. The huge crater located in north-central Turkmenistan is 226 feet across and 98 feet deep. While accurate data of its origin remains unclear, it is claimed that Soviet-era engineers created the crater in search of oil. It is believed that after they found that the crater was producing methane gas, they lit it on fire to prevent the emission of the poisonous gas. However, the fire never stopped burning.

How did the hazardous crater become a tourist attraction?

Over the decades, the “door to hell” which was touted as a dangerous site, has transitioned from an industrial mishap to a significant tourist attraction. Tourists from around the world are drawn to the remote location and are eager to witness the mesmerizing dance of the flames coming out of the pit and lighting its surroundings. Campsites can be usually seen springing up in its vicinity as tourists enjoy its lustrous flames. The crater garnered so much attraction that in 2018, the gas hole served as a nocturnal halt for participants in the Amul-Hazar automobile rally.

But the Crater comes with a side-effects

While the initial intention of burning the giant crater was to prevent the spread of harmful gases into the atmosphere, the unceasing combustion of the crater has led to the prolonged release of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. This has raised major concerns among the authorities.

In April 2010, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow directed his administration to find ways to mitigate its impact. By 2022, Berdimuhamedow unveiled plans to seal the crater and a special commission was formed to look into the matter. However, despite many such initiatives the crater continues to remain wide open and filled with fire.