If you think your worst mistake haunts you, imagine one that’s been literally on fire for over 50 years. In 1971, Soviet scientists accidentally created a blazing gas crater in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert—and it’s still burning. Known as the “Gate of Hell,” the Darvaza Crater is 70 meters wide, 30 meters deep, and endlessly aflame, turning a Soviet-era misstep into one of the world’s most bizarre and fiery tourist attractions.
The Flaming Birth of a Fiery Beast
In 1971, Soviet geologists drilling for natural gas in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert struck a massive underground cavern. The ground gave way beneath them, swallowing their rig and creating a gaping crater. What began as a routine exploration quickly turned into one of history’s hottest accidents—literally.
Fearing the release of toxic methane gas into the atmosphere, the scientists made a bold decision: set the gas on fire. They figured the blaze would last a few days—just long enough to burn off the dangerous fumes.
Spoiler alert: it did not.
More than half a century later, the fire is still burning, defying all expectations and scientific predictions. It’s as if the earth itself is stubbornly refusing to let this one mistake go unnoticed.
Welcome to the Gate of Hell
Now a glowing inferno of orange flames and sulfurous heat, the Darvaza Crater has earned legendary status. Locals call it the “Door to Hell,” and at night, its wild, flickering fire draws thrill-seekers eager to witness one of Earth’s strangest sights.
Though isolated and reachable only by rough desert tracks, the crater attracts thousands yearly. Tourists flock for surreal views, fiery selfies, and a rare glimpse into Earth’s eternal blaze.
And if you think staring into a flaming hole in the middle of nowhere sounds insane, well, that’s exactly what makes it irresistible.
A Burning Question: When Will It Stop?
In recent years, Turkmenistan’s president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has voiced concerns about the crater, citing environmental and economic reasons to extinguish it. Yet, as of today, the Gate of Hell still burns.
Attempts to snuff it out have proven tricky—partly because of how much gas is still trapped beneath the surface, and partly because it’s become such a symbol of wild wonder that shutting it down might feel like pulling the plug on a modern myth.
Beyond the Flames: What Darvaza Tells Us
While the Darvaza Crater is a spectacle in its own right, it’s also a fiery metaphor. It represents the unpredictable outcomes of tampering with nature, the human tendency to “fix” things with fire, and our undeniable fascination with danger wrapped in beauty.
In the end, the Gate of Hell isn’t just a pit of flames—it’s a burning testament to human folly, geological surprises, and our attraction to the absurdly extraordinary.
So if your travel bucket list feels too safe, why not spice it up with a visit to a flaming crater that was never meant to last… but somehow won’t quit?
