Meant to burn for few days but ‘Door to Hell’ has blazed for over 50 years — The mystery of Darvaza Gas Crater

 

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The Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, famously called the “Door to Hell,” was ignited in 1971 after a Soviet drilling accident released methane. Geologists set the gas alight, expecting it to burn for only a few days, but underground reserves kept the flames alive for over 50 years. Measuring 70 meters wide and 30 meters deep, the fiery pit became a surreal tourist attraction in the Karakum Desert. Recent reports suggest the blaze is weakening as containment efforts progress, though its longevity remains a striking reminder of human miscalculation and nature’s persistence.

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