Where is the “gateway to hell”?
The Great Fire Crater of Darvaza is located in Turkmenistan and is known by another and much more ominous name: “Gateway to Hell.”. Some also call it the “Gates of Hell.”. Darvaza means “gate.”. Its light can be seen for miles and miles amidst the darkness of the desert. The sulfuric smell is very strong and hard to bear. In short, we are talking about a unique place in the world.
The aim was to prevent methane coming out of the crater from polluting the environment. So some techniques were thought to be ignited in the mouth of the crater. They couldn’t expect the flames to never go out. The year was 1971.
The crater has been burning in the middle of the desert of Turkmenistan for over 50 years. It emits an intense, reddish light, and as spectacular as it is, it has become a tourist attraction. As well as a symbol of the territory for those who live there. Even though the smell and heat are unbearable.
The fire was started by geologists. They were scientists and engineers from the Soviet Union, and it was obvious to them that the fire would soon be extinguished. Today, however, after such a long time, nature did its experiment that went wrong. So much so that a recent inspection inside the crater in 2013 found that there was a type of bacteria living among the flames that was not found anywhere else in the surrounding area. Bacteria can survive at very high temperatures.
How do you get to Darvaza Crater?
The crater is considered a supernatural phenomenon by many locals, but it also attracts tourists from all over the world. You will arrive in the area of ​​Derweze village in the Karakum desert and from there you can drive to the crater. The area, which has been used by nomads and semi-nomads for centuries, is spectacular: tourists camp in the desert and, in addition to the crater, enjoy the view of the breathtaking starry sky.
Since 2017, at Esquire Italia, we have wanted to be a man’s man of style and substance, reporting on trends, current events, and passions with seriousness in content and a touch of playfulness in tone. We believe in information that helps us live better, makes us freer, and at the same time more aware. That’s why our journalists put the same passion, care, and research into all the content we publish, from the most complex to the seemingly simplest and lightest. The site is free to readers and funded by advertising, so ads and banners appear. Although we make every effort to research and verify, it is not possible to guarantee the absence of errors and the absolute correctness of all content that we publish. That’s why we always listen to our readers and are ready to collect their suggestions and messages.
