At first it could look like it is a dramatic scene from a science-fiction movie. This is a giant hole of fire in the heart of the Karakum Desert and it is not the aftermath of an attack on Earth, launched from outer space. This crater was made 40 years ago by geologists. The flames with in the hole have been burning ever since. The locals call it ‘The Door to Hell’.
In 1971 Soviet geologists were drilling at the site. They tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. But the ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed. It left a hole with a diameter of 70 meters. The team decided to burn it off fearing that the hole would lead to the release of poisonous gases. The fire was expected to use all the fuel within days, but the gas is still burning today. The golden glow generated from the flames can be seen for miles around Derweze. It is a village with a population of about 350. The site is the capital of Turkmenistan and is about 260 kilometers north of Ashgabat.
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