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Door to Hell: Turkmenistan's Burning Crater That Shouldn't Exist
At night, it looks like something from a science-fiction movie.
A giant glowing hole in the desert with flames rising from deep underground.
Yet this strange place is completely real.
What Is the Door to Hell?
The Door to Hell, officially called the **Darvaza Gas Crater**, is located in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan.
The crater measures roughly 70 meters (230 feet) across and is filled with natural gas fires that have been burning continuously for decades.
How Did It Begin?
According to popular accounts, Soviet geologists drilling for natural gas in 1971 accidentally caused the ground beneath their equipment to collapse.
The resulting crater released methane gas into the atmosphere.
To prevent dangerous emissions, the gas was intentionally ignited.
Scientists reportedly believed the fire would burn out in a matter of days.
It never did.
More Than Fifty Years of Flames
More than half a century later, the crater is still burning.
At night, the orange glow can be seen from miles away, creating one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth.
Visitors often describe the experience as standing at the edge of another world.
A Desert Attraction
Although Turkmenistan receives relatively few tourists, the Door to Hell has become one of its most famous landmarks.
Adventurous travelers camp nearby to witness the crater after sunset, when the flames are at their most spectacular.
Scientists Continue to Study It
The crater offers scientists opportunities to study methane emissions and extreme environments.
Researchers have even discovered microorganisms capable of surviving around the fiery conditions.
A Place That Lives Up to Its Name
With endless flames, a glowing orange sky, and an eerie atmosphere, the Door to Hell truly feels like a place that shouldn't exist.
Yet in the middle of the Turkmen desert, this incredible natural phenomenon continues to burn day and night.