Door to Hell: Burning for 54 Years – World News
- What: The darvaza gas crater,a continuously burning natural gas field.
- Why it matters: A unique geological phenomenon and a striking visual spectacle,raising questions about resource management and environmental impact.
- What's next: The Turkmen government has considered extinguishing the fire, but solutions remain elusive.
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Teh Darvaza Gas Crater: Turkmenistan’s “Door to Hell“
Table of Contents
Updated November 26,2025,05:41:22 PST
Origins of the Inferno
The Darvaza gas crater, frequently enough called the “Door to Hell,” is a natural gas field that collapsed into a cavern located in the Karakum Desert, near the village of Darvaza in turkmenistan. The crater has been burning continuously since 1971, creating a dramatic and otherworldly landscape.
The most widely accepted clarification for the fire’s origin traces back to Soviet geological exploration. In 1971, Soviet geologists where drilling at the site, likely searching for natural gas deposits.during the drilling process, they inadvertently punctured a large underground cavern filled with natural gas as reported by National Geographic.
To prevent the perilous spread of methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas, the geologists decided to set the crater alight, believing it would burn off within a few weeks. However, over five decades later, the crater continues to burn, fueled by the vast reserves of natural gas beneath the surface.
A Fiery Spectacle
The crater measures approximately 69 meters (226 feet) in diameter and 30 meters (98 feet) in depth. The flames dance across the crater’s interior, creating a mesmerizing and somewhat terrifying spectacle. The intensity of the fire fluctuates, but it remains a constant presence in the desert landscape.
George Kourounis,a Canadian explorer,became the first person to descend into the crater in 2013 as part of the Extreme Microbiome project,a research initiative focused on finding life in extreme environments. He described the scene as a “coliseum of fire,” noting the thousands of small fires and a roaring sound akin to a jet engine as detailed in his National Geographic interview. Remarkably,Kourounis observed that the fire burned cleanly,producing no smoke and allowing for clear visibility.
Attempts to Extinguish the Flame
The continuous burning of the Darvaza gas crater represents a meaningful waste of natural resources. In 2010, then-President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, ordered experts to find a way to extinguish the fire