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What is the Darvaza gas crater? -

Deep in the the middle of Turkmenistan's arid Karakum Desert, a huge hole appears in the sand like a gaping wound—the Darvaza gas crater.

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The "Gates of Hell" -

Locals, however, call Turkmenistan's most internationally-recognized site the "Gates of Hell" for the perpetual flames fueled by seeping natural gas that dance and flicker as if nourishing a huge, diabolical cauldron.

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Does hell exist? -

Many believe hell exists as a place of real torment, a dark fiery underworld occupied by the devil. The Darvaza gas crater certainly evokes this sinister image!

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Does the devil exist? -

The devil is the personification of evil. A harmful being capable of inflicting immense suffering and cruelty, this nefarious spirit is also known in some cultures as Satan, Lucifer, or Beelzebub. According to biblical accounts, the devil is a fallen angel.

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How the devil is portrayed -

This fallen angel has appeared on film in various guises. Remember the climatic scene in 'The Devil's Advocate' (1997), where Al Pacino reveals his true, terrifying self?

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Satan on celluloid -

Sometimes a difficult and demanding personality is equated with the devil. Again in cinema, this kind of temperament is exemplified perfectly by Meryl Streep's character in 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006). 

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Is there a hell on Earth? -

So, is there a hell on Earth? Let's take a closer look at that extraordinary site in Turkmenistan, which is named for the nearby town of Darvaza.

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Visiting Turkmenistan -

You'll very likely begin your journey to the Gates Of Hell in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.

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A Muslim country -

Turkmenistan is a near-landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. It shares a coastline with the Caspian Sea. The country is predominantly Muslim, with buildings like Ashgabat's Turkmenbashi Ruhi Mosque a common architectural feature.

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Turkmenistan's religious beliefs -

Indeed, Turkmenistan's citizens have identified with Islam (mostly Sunni) for centuries. Around 10% of the population follow the Eastern Orthodox Church.

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Paying a visit -

Paying a visit to Turkmenistan means changing your dollars, euros, and other currency into manats, the official legal tender in the country.

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Turkmen culture -

The Turkmen people have traditionally been nomads and equestrians. As part of their traditional costume, Turkmen males wear large telpek or mekan telpek hats, which are made of black or white sheepskin. Women wear long sack-dresses over narrow trousers. Female headdresses usually consist of silver jewelry and semi-precious stones.

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A vast land -

Turkmenistan is a huge country, the second largest state in Central Asia after Kazakhstan. Its geography is characterized by mountains, plateaus, depressions, and featureless desert. 

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Seeking a date with the devil? -

The Karakum Desert is vast. It occupies 70% of Turkmenistan. Few people call this remote region home. Even wildlife is sparse in its diversity. But the Karakum is where you'll need travel for a date with the devil...

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Getting to Darvaza -

The Darvaza gas crater is about 260 km (160 mi) north of Ashgabat. Most hotels can organize transport to and from the site. Buses and trains serve Darvaza itself, but then it's a 7-km (4.5 mi) hike to the crater. Taking a shared taxi is another option.

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Why did Darvaza start burning? -

Accounts differ as to how Darvaza was created. The most likely scenario is that the site was drilled by Soviet engineers in 1971 as an oil field, but collapsed within days, forming the crater.

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It's a gas -

The subsidence (i.e. sinking of the ground) released a cocktail of noxious gases, which the geologists decided to flare to prevent the spread of methane. However, they underestimated the volume of gas hidden below ground. The result is a burn that's remained ignited for well over 50 years!

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Soviet influence -

Did we mention Soviet geologists? This is because in 1925 Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR). The country won its independence after the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Pictured in the early 20th century is the Red Army in Ashgabat.

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Rich in natural resources -

Turkmenistan is rich in oil and natural gas resources. In fact, Turkmenistan holds a staggering 265 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. This ranks it 44th globally in terms of oil reserves and sixth in gas reserves. Pictured is a gas pipeline constructed through sand dunes that has been exposed by wind and movement of the desert sands.

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Natural gas exploration -

The area around the Darvaza crater is pocked with evidence of other gas exploration endeavors. There's one crater about 23 km (14 mi) from Darvaza that's filled with water where gas bubbles are visible. Another, about 10 km (6 mi) away, is known as the Mud Crater (pictured) and is flecked with wannabe tongues of flame.

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Unworldly phenomenon -

The Darvaza gas crater, which appears especially dramatic and unworldly after dark, is 69 m (226 ft) in diameter and is as big as an American football field.

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Popular tourist attraction -

The crater is a popular tourist attraction. Since 2009 at least 50,000 tourists have visited the site.  

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A wild camping experience -

The surrounding area is also popular for wild desert camping, with the more adventurous pitching their tents near Lucifer's lip.

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Satan's breath -

Those approaching the Gates of Hell at night are greeted with an eerie glow long before they reach the crater's edge. A sulfurous odor—Satan's breath, perhaps—hangs in the air. But is this satanic sinkhole about to be extinguished?

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Taming the flame? -

Back in 2010, Turkmenistan's then president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, recommended the crater's flame be tamed, citing detrimental effects on local health, the environment, and the natural gas industry.

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Valuable commodity -

His main concern was that the burning crater represented a wasting of valuable natural gas resources, commodities he wanted tapped and exploited.

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A burning sensation -

This despite the fact that the Darvaza gas crater is Turkmenistan's biggest tourist attraction.

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Beelzebub is big -

Regardless of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's intentions, the crater remained open. Then, in 2022, he ordered the closure of the site. But in the same year Berdimuhamedow left office, with no known deadline for closing the Darvaza gas crater or putting out the fire.

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A new president -

But we still might get an answer, and sooner rather than later. Berdimuhamedow's successor is his son, Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The new President of Turkmenistan is yet to make a decision on the fate of the Darvaza crater, but he is likely to appease his father and interested parties within the country's oil and gas industry.

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Standing at the Gates of Hell -

Meanwhile, intrepid tourists are still willing to make the arduous journey to stand at the Gates of Hell.

Sources: (Britannica) (International Trade Administration) (Silk Road Briefing) (CNN) (BBC)

See also: The most dangerous volcanic regions in Europe

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