50 Year of Fire: The Never-Ending Inferno at Turkmenistan's Door to Hell!

The "Door to Hell", also known as the Darvaza gas crater, is an enduring natural spectacle in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert. This fiery pit, burning for over 50 years, was created in 1971 during the Soviet Union’s energy exploration in Turkmenistan. When the ground collapsed beneath a drilling rig, a vast crater was formed, releasing a pocket of natural gas. To prevent toxic gases from threatening nearby communities, the gas was ignited, a common practice thought to exhaust the gas supply within weeks. However, the blaze has continued for decades. The gas crater has become a significant tourist attraction, with its fiery glow and unending energy drawing visitors worldwide. Despite its appeal, the crater raises environmental concerns due to the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Efforts are being made to mitigate the environmental impact, but technical and logistical challenges and its status as a cultural landmark complicate these efforts.