10) Gates of Hell, Turkmenistan
The Darvaza gas crater also known as the Gates of Hell is a burning natural gas field that collapsed into a cavern near Darvaza, Turkmenistan. Accurate records of how the crater ignited have not been discovered.
A massive man-made crater that has been burning methane gas for decades is a disaster of miscalculation. It is in the middle of the “Karakum Desert”, about 260 kilometers (160 mi) north of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The surrounding area is also popular for wild desert camping. The name “Door to Hell” was given to the field, referring to the fire, boiling mud, and orange flames in the large crater, which has a diameter of 70 meters (230 ft). The hot spots range over an area with a width of 60 meters (200 ft) and to a depth of about 20 meters (66 ft). In January 2022, Berdimuhamedow publicly declared that a method to extinguish the fire needs to be found so that the effects on the environment and public health can be curbed.
Prev
Next