Gas Crater “Door to Hell” Has Been on Fire Since 1971- Scientists are Starting to Worry

By: Alex Trent | Published: Mar 08, 2024

In Turkmenistan, there exists an eternally burning crater that has become known as the “Gates of Hell” or the “Door to Hell.” While the burning flame is quite the photogenic spectacle that attracts tourists, locals have been trying to put the fire out for years.

The gas crater releases a substantial amount of methane, which can negatively affect the surrounding ecosystem. It also increases the risk of an unforeseen explosion in the future.

Burning the Desert

According to Atlas Obscura, the crater in the Karakum desert has been burning since 1971. The crater is 230 feet wide and has been consistently on fire for over 50 years. The “Gates of Hell” burns with an intense flame that can be seen for miles away.

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A truck driving across the Karakum Desert.

Source: Karakum/Wikimedia

It is located near a small village called Davasza, which reportedly only has around 350 people living in it. The official name of the crater is the Darbaza Crater. (via CNN)

How Did the Crater Appear?

The history of the crater goes back to the USSR and the 1970s. In 1971, the Soviets were using a drilling rig in the area that accidentally tunneled into a massive underground cavern. 

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A mural of Lenin, one of the founders of Soviet Russia.

Source: Soviet Artefacts/Unsplash

This cavern was filled with natural gas, and the hole that the rig punctured started causing dangerous fumes to be released at a steady rate. (via Atlas Obscura)

A Desperate Plan

At the time the cavern was breached, the panicking Soviets realized the potential of the catastrophe that they had unleashed. In a desperate bid to prevent environmental disaster, they set the pit they had created on fire, hoping that the fire would get rid of all the dangerous gas.

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The Door to Hell creator seen at night.

Source: flydime/Wikimedia

The Soviets hoped the fire would go out in just a few weeks, however, they were forced to abandon their drilling rig when the fire wouldn’t go out, and the fire has continued burning for decades. (via Atlas Obscura)

A Popular Pilgrimage

Throughout the decades, word spread of the eternal fire that wouldn’t go out and the intensity of the landscape surrounding it. As word spread, people would travel from all over the world to see the flame themselves.

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People camping near the gas crater in the Karakum desert.

Source: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen/Wikimedia

Undeterred by the danger and the flame, people would camp out in the wild near the crater for a chance to bask in the shadow of the “Gates of Hell.” (via Atlas Obscura)

The Government Orders the Fire to be Put Out

In 2010, the then President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, ordered experts to finally extinguish the Gates of Hell. (via Live Science) However, quelling the flame in the crater proved to be a monumental task that initially failed.

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The president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in front of a flag.

Source: Wikimedia

The size of the crater proved challenging, and the continued presence of methane gas makes it dangerous to operate in the area. An article by Science Direct explains that suppressing methane fires becomes increasingly difficult based on the amount of oxygen present.

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Driving At the Crater

In 2019, Berdimuhamedov released an unusual video of himself on state television driving a rally car near Hell’s Gate crater (via ABC). The bizarre stunt was apparently meant to rebuff rumors that the President was dead after he had not been seen in the public eye for several weeks.

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The glow of the fiery crater called the Door to Hell.

Source: Benjamin Goetzinger/Wikimedia

Berdimuhamedov was known for previous antics where he filmed himself performing a rap song and riding a bicycle while shooting a firearm.

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New President Tries Again

When the new president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, took over the presidency from his father in 2022, he announced a new effort to extinguish the crater.

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Serdar Berdimuhamedov shakes hands with his father.

Source: Wikimedia

CNN reported that a local newspaper in the country said the deputy prime minister in Turkmenistan “was instructed to gather scientists, and if necessary, to attract foreign consultants and find a solution for extinguishing the fire.”

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Why Is the Crater so Dangerous?

Aside from the obvious huge burning fire, the Darvaza Crater is dangerous because of the effects of the constant leak of natural gas. Exposure to high levels of natural gas can lead to mild to severe consequences for human health.

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The edge of the Darvaza crater.

Source: Hellbus/Wikimedia

A person who has prolonged exposure can experience problems with memory, a loss of consciousness, or even death by suffocation.

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Methane Gas

According to the National Institutes of Health, methane is typically harmless in the appropriate contexts. However, high concentrations of methane can reduce the oxygen available for someone to breathe. This lack of oxygen in the air is what causes people to suffocate.

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A photo of methane bubbles trapped in ice.

Source: John Bakator/Unsplash

Methane gas is invisible, which adds to the danger it presents to humans. Often people might not realize when they are inhaling large concentrations of methane.

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Biblical Comparisons

The nickname “Gates of Hell” relates to the vision of the underworld seen in religions like Christianity. The phrase “Gates of Hell” appears in the book of Matthew in the Old Testament.

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A Bible being held high towards the sun.

Source: Timothy Eberly/Unsplash

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) The concept of an Underworld exists in several religions, some of which depict the realm with fire.

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The Future of the Gates of Hell

People were skeptical of the attempt to vanquish the fire in the “Gates of Hell” crater that was reported in 2022. (via CNN) There was no deadline announced for when the fire would be put out, which doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

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A man holding his arms open to the Gates of Hell.

Source: Tormod Sandtorv/Wikimedia

The fire still burns to this day, but it is a huge waste of natural gas resources. Eventually, the economics of allowing such a fire to continue burning will force a real solution. According to CNN, Turkmenistan relies on the production of natural gas as a source of revenue.

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A Canadian Explorer Descends into the Gates of Hell

In a daring expedition funded in part by National Geographic and supported by Kensington Tours, explorer George Kourounis aimed to become the first person to investigate the depths of the Gates of Hell crater in Turkmenistan.

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George Kourounis wearing a helmet on his head and a gas mask around his neck.

Hannabannana56/Wikimedia Commons

Kourounis saw the colossal, flame-engulfed crater as an exciting challenge, and sought to collect soil samples at its bottom to try and understand the life surviving in such extreme conditions. The journey, chronicled in the National Geographic Channel series Die Trying, was a truly audacious quest that pushed the boundaries of human exploration.

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Why Did Kourounis Enter the Darvaza Crater?

Kourounis, based in Toronto, originally decided to trek to the Darvaza Crater because he was absolutely fascinated by its unique existence.

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Two people stand above the Darvaza Crater on an outcropping, admiring the inferno.

sunriseOdyssey/Wikimedia Commons

The crater, spewing burning methane at high pressure, captivated him because of its unparalleled status in the natural world. The “Door to Hell” is also still a complete mystery, which presented an opportunity for Kourounis to potentially uncover secrets that could contribute to our understanding of similar phenomena elsewhere in the universe.

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Kourounis Spends a Year and a Half Rigorously Planning

Embarking on this dangerous expedition required meticulous planning and preparation. Kourounis and his team spent a year and a half obtaining permissions, organizing logistics, and assembling the necessary equipment.

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A slab of Kevlar used in German military applications.

Membeth/Wikimedia Commons

Custom-made Kevlar climbing harnesses were a crucial component, as standard harnesses would succumb to the extreme heat. To acclimate himself, Kourounis even enlisted the help of a Hollywood stunt coordinator, undergoing controlled burns to simulate the intense conditions he would encounter.

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Kourounis Confronts the Surreal Door to Hell

Arriving at the crater, Kourounis was met with a surreal scene reminiscent of a science fiction film. The vast desert landscape abruptly transitioned into a gaping, burning pit with scorching heat radiating from it.

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Star trails spin in circles in the sky over the Darvaza Crater, seen at the bottom right of the image at a bright light emanating from the ground.

miketnorton/Wikimedia Commons

The shimmering distortion of the air and the intense blast of heat downwind challenged his resolve. Despite initial apprehension, Kourounis described the experience as akin to stepping onto another planet, filled with a breathtaking near-alien landscape and an incredibly urgent sense of vulnerability.

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The Only Person to Ever Enter the Darvaza Crater

While the Darvaza Crater is open for exploration, few venture to this remote location.

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An elderly tourist takes a photo of the Darvaza Crater, raising his camera high above his head and standing on a nearby object to gain height.

David Stanley/Wikimedia Commons

Kourounis encountered only the sporadic passersby, including tourists on motorcycles and camels. The site, once reached, offers an open invitation to visitors. In a country that sees only 6,000 visitors each year, this is an exceptionally remote destination. However, Kourounis stands as the sole individual to have even descended into the Darvaza Crater.

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Kourounis's Samples: Life in Extreme Conditions

Descending into the crater, Kourounis faced a surreal environment that does not seem like it could house any life. Describing it as a “coliseum of fire,” he marveled at the thousands of small fires illuminating the surroundings. The roaring, high-pressure, gas-burning sound resembled a jet engine.

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Electron microscope photo of bacteria. The bacteria are an off-pink color and their surrounding are a spectrum of blues.

Janice Carr/Wikimedia Commons

Despite the challenges, Kourounis successfully gathered soil samples, hoping to discover signs of microbial life thriving in the methane-rich environment. The results exceeded expectations, revealing bacteria comfortable in high temperatures, forming a micro-ecosystem unique to the depths of the Door to Hell.

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