In the heart of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, an apocalyptic sight known as the 'Gate to Hell' has been burning relentlessly for more than half a century. This fiery chasm, officially called the Darvaza Gas Crater, presents a dystopian scene that seems more suited to a thriller film than reality.
The Accidental Inferno
The crater's origins date back to 1971, when Soviet geologists were drilling in the area. They accidentally collapsed a cavern containing a vast reserve of natural gas. Fearing the spread of dangerous, odourless gases, they made the fateful decision to set it alight, expecting the fire to burn itself out within weeks. Over 50 years later, the flames continue to roar, fuelled by Turkmenistan's immense natural gas reserves, which rank fourth largest in the world.
Remarkably, there are no official Turkmen records of the incident, with documents either classified, missing, or inaccessible, reflecting the country's notorious secrecy. The crater itself is a massive pit near the village of Darvaza, measuring roughly 60-70 metres wide and 30 metres (98ft) deep. Its hellish glow can be seen for miles, and it has become a surprising but major tourist attraction for the nation.
Descent into the Abyss
Despite the extreme heat and hostile, methane-rich environment, there is evidence of life within the crater. The only known human to have ventured inside is Canadian explorer and adventurer George Kourounis. In November 2013, Kourounis, wearing a specialised heat-resistant suit, descended to the crater floor on an expedition with National Geographic.
His mission was to collect soil samples for the Extreme Microbiome Project, effectively "looking for alien life right here on Earth" due to the crater's otherworldly conditions. He spent approximately 17 minutes in the inferno and successfully discovered several types of bacteria living in the soil.
Kourounis described the experience as overwhelming, noting the tremendous roar of the flames, the unbearable heat, and thousands of small fires dancing around the edges. "It's a very volatile place," he recounted.
A Fiery End in Sight?
Now, in a dramatic new development, there are signs that this legendary blaze may finally be subsiding. During a press briefing in June 2025, Irina Luryeva, a director at the state energy firm Turkmengaz, announced that the fires in the crater are burning out.
She revealed that the reduction in the flames is nearly threefold. "Whereas before a huge glow from the blaze was visible from several kilometres away, hence the name 'Gateway to Hell', today only a faint source of combustion remains," Luryeva stated. This suggests that after more than five decades, Turkmenistan's most famous accidental landmark may be entering its final, smouldering chapter.
