Next stop: Gates of Hell in Darvasa

 

Located In the Karakum Desert in the center of Turkmenistan, the Gates of Hell crater was created in 1971 when a Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a massive underground natural gas cavern, causing the ground to collapse and the entire drilling rig to fall in. Having punctured a pocket of gas, poisonous fumes began leaking at an alarming rate.

To head off a potential environmental catastrophe, the Soviets set the hole alight, figuring it would stop burning within a few weeks. Decades later, and the fiery pit is still going strong.

The fate of the burning crater may be in limbo. In January 2022, the President ordered the government of Turkmenistan to begin researching how to put the fire out. So far it’s still burning, so I got there in time and was able to enjoy the best bonfire I’ve even seen that radiated wonderful cozy warmth on the cold desert night. Too bad I forgot marshmallows and an incredible long roasting stick!