Regardless of religious traditions or beliefs about the existence of hell, there is a place here on Earth, in the middle of a desert in Turkmenistan, which has been named the “Gates of Hell.” Believed to be the result of an industrial accident, the Darvaza Crater has been burning gas (mostly methane) since the 1970s, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, negatively affecting the health of people living nearby, wasting valuable natural gas resources, and causing environmental damage. But despite these concerns, there is a consensus among experts that any attempt to close the Gates of Hell would not only be dangerous and expensive, but also unsuccessful.
The Turkmenistan government has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of sealing the crater. Meanwhile, long-time visitors to Darvaza note that the flames are much smaller than they used to be.
“I would say it’s only burning at around 40% of the level I first witnessed there in 2009,” says Dylan Lupine, one of the pioneers in bringing tourists to Turkmenistan. “Before there were more flames than now, probably because the gas pocket is wearing out,” he says.
Many believe that this fiery crater is associated with evil and it is indeed a popular tourist destination. Want to know more? Click through the following gallery.