The "Gates of Hell" Are Closing. Turkmenistan Puts Out a Massive Fire

The Darvaza crater in Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert, known worldwide as the "Gates of Hell," is starting to die down. After more than half a century of continuous burning, authorities managed to drill side boreholes that significantly reduced the flames in the center of the sinkhole, said Irina Luryeva of state-owned company Turkmengaz.

As Luryeva reported, the area engulfed in flames has been reduced threefold. "While previously the glow was visible from many kilometers away (...), today only a small source of ignition remains," she said.

The country's authorities decided to take such action due to significant emissions of harmful methane into the atmosphere and economic losses caused by uncontrolled gas burning. Earlier, in 2010 and in 2022, attempts were made to extinguish the flames, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

The history of "Gates of Hell" dates back to 1971. At that time, Soviet engineers drilling for oil came across an empty gas chamber . The rig collapsed, and in order to avoid the emission of toxic gases, it was decided to ignite the leaking methane . The flame was supposed to go out after a few days, but it burns to this day.

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The flame-lit crater , about 70 meters in diameter and 30 meters deep, is located 260 kilometers north of the capital, Ashgabat , and is known as the country's main tourist attraction. In 2013, the region was designated a nature reserve, and four years later it was named the "Glow of Karakum."

Gas leaks in various locations in Turkmenistan make the country the world's largest emitter of methane, according to the International Energy Agency.