The Horrifying, Creepy 'Door To Hell' In Turkmenistan Keeps On Burning For Almost 50 Years
The man-made crater of fire known as "Door To Hell" in Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert is everlastingly burning now for nearly 50 years. It is the result of the Soviet-era gas drilling accident, which is officially known as the Darvaza Gas Crater.
A literal Door to hell in turkemenistan!! This is definitely scary and must read!! https://t.co/JwGxtuFxqy #Travel #Facts
— The Yolo Moments (@theyolomoment) January 25, 2017
Here's What It's Like to Get Up Close and Personal With the 'Door to Hell' https://t.co/cu7qeRGZcj via @ScienceAlert — Aspie (@aspiebot) February 1, 2017
It is about the size of a football field with a 230-foot-wide crater. So, how does this thing come into existence? A team of Soviet scientists looked for natural gas on the said desert in 1971. They set up a drilling platform. On the other hand, it accidentally hit a massive underground gas cavern and collapsed. Then, it shaped a sinkhole and pulled the whole drilling platform into it, according to Science Alert.
The Darvaza gas crater, also known as 'The Door to Hell',is a jaw-dropping man-made natural phenomenon in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan pic.twitter.com/mblmQ5wmZ3
— Nepareizais (@Nepareizais) January 31, 2017
The Soviets concealed the disaster. There was no report of the incident and no casualties, too. On the other hand, it is believed that the sinkhole slurped and buried everything that was above it.
Door To Hell - Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan https://t.co/Fp6GJQoOKI via @YouTube — bythesea (@bythesea66) January 31, 2017
Huffington Post reports that the crater of fire is visited by hundreds of tourists every year. Meanwhile, the country's president ordered it to be vacated in 2010. On the other hand, it did not materialize. It is known that Turkmenistan ranks fifth in the world in natural gas reserves.
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