People drive here to see the “gates of hell” – a huge burning gas crater in the middle of Karakum desert. The flame-colored hole with the diameter 60 and depth about 20 meters is a result of mistake of Soviet scientists in 1971. That time the drilling rig run against the cavern emptiness and drilling equipment has collapsed into it. Fearing that the crater gases will cause damage to people and animals, geologists have decided to set the crater on fire. They believed that it does not have a lot of gas, it will burn fast and flame will go out. But the fire did not die away and 40 years later turned into a bright symbol of huge natural gas resources of Turkmenistan. According to the experts, the country is the fourth gas-richest country in the world.
The burning crater Darweze, which is named after a small village located next to this hole, was called the “gates of hell” by the tourists impressed by the burning hole. The word Derweze means “gate” in Turkmenistan language. Local people also call the crater a giant tandeer- traditional Asian oven. Darweze itself was demolished ten years ago and now the closest village is Yerbent, which is located about 90 km away from the crater. There are a couple of holes near the burning hole, but they have no fire. One has bubbling mud in it and another one has bubbling turquoise color water (the color is caused by a high content of hydrogen sulfide).
It is unclear why the crater has not been extinguished and why the valuable gas keeps on burning. In 2010 Turkmenistan President instructed “to work out the program to eliminate the existing anomalies,” but the burning hole still remains a local sightseeing.
Natalya Travoga
Magazine Around The World
