Arkhip Kuindzhi moonlit night. “Moonlit Night on the Dnieper” painting by Kuindzhi
They actually exist!)) Gate to Hell, Gate of Hell, Door to the Underworld - that’s what they call it unusual place in Turkmenistan. This deep cave in the middle of the Karakum desert, inside of which a fire is constantly burning, producing an eerie impression and attracting the attention of tourists.
The burning crater undoubtedly attracts people, but repels animals and all other living creatures. The fact is that it smells terrible there and threatens death. Now let's get started. In this place, where the Gate is now, a natural gas deposit was discovered in 1971. They began to develop it - but they came across an underground void, a cavern, and as a result the entire tower with vehicles and equipment (though there were no casualties) fell into the ground.
The gas began to escape, and in order to avoid its impact on the environment and poisoning, they decided to set it on fire (at least that’s what was stated. It’s not a fact that it wasn’t accidentally set on fire))). Since then, since 1971, it has been burning - like a huge Eternal flame. No one knows how many cubic meters of precious fuel were released into the air. In those years, the crater could not be extinguished technically - now, most likely, there is a possibility, but the gas continues to burn. In 2010, the President of Turkmenistan visited this place and ordered to fill it up, extinguish it - in general, stop the burning.
The cave is huge - its diameter is about 60 meters, its depth is about 20 meters, the height of the flame in some places is up to 15 meters. There are a lot of lights - gas burns in hundreds of torches. If you fall into a cave, you are unlikely to get out without outside help...
I personally am not drawn here - although those who have seen it “live” say that it is terribly beautiful and makes a colossal impression. I have no doubt about it...
Turkmenistan is a mysterious country and closed from prying eyes. Truly an oriental beauty, the country is reluctant to show its face, and even in inner world there is no way for everyone.
The government of Turkmenistan does not strive to show everyone around life in the state; it is stingy in the development of foreign policy relations, but tourism here is beginning to develop at an accelerated pace.
Turkmenistan is famous not only for its natural, eye-catching formations from the sands of the famous Karakum Desert, but also for its history and traditions. Research by scientists has proven that life began on the territory of the country 3 million years ago. Currently, the country's population is 5.2 million people.
Sights of Turkmenistan
These include mainly the remains of ancient settlements and forts, medieval mosques, and palaces of rulers. But modern buildings, especially in the capital - Ashgabat - represent historical value and have the grandeur and beauty of decoration in the traditions of the East.
Wonders of the world: “the gates of hell”, Turkmenistan. Description
350 km from Ashgabat, in the town of Darvaza, there is one of the wonders of the world - a fiery crater, called the “gates of hell”. Turkmenistan is the owner of this mystical phenomenon. Why mystical?
Yes, because every tourist who has visited the Karakum, where the “gates of hell” are located, will remember Turkmenistan for a long time and will no longer be able to doubt the existence of hell and heaven.
Imagine that in the middle of the sand kingdom lies a crater with flames escaping from the neck! Sometimes they rise to a height of 10-15 meters. This whole ominous picture is filled with the sounds of gas escaping from the ground - is this not the door to hell? This is unforgettable!
“The Gates of Hell” Turkmenistan and its government tried to cover it with earth and make the developments operational. But so far no success.
How was the “gate to hell” formed? Turkmenistan makes no secret of this. You can learn about this from many sources. Turns out, mysterious place Turkmenistan opened Darvaza, or “the gates of hell,” in 1971. Drilling work was underway here at a new natural gas field. The workers stumbled upon a vast underground cavity that went several meters deep, which resulted in the destruction of the drilling rig and all equipment. All this simply fell into the ground. It was a miracle that the workers were not injured. And gas came out of the hole in the earth, which posed a danger to workers, the local population, livestock and other representatives of the fauna.
Then the decision arose to ignite the gas until it was completely burned. But the fiery crater still exists; gas reserves are so large that no one knows when they will run out. This story has already become a legend, and hundreds of tourists come to the place to see for themselves the existence of a door to the underworld.
Darvaza looks amazing, especially in dark time days. Hundreds of flaming flames are visible from afar, and against the backdrop of black sand they represent continuously burning torches different sizes. You might think that you are in a world after the end of the world.
It is unsafe to be near the crater: elevated temperature, vapors of burning gas, difficulty breathing - that’s what it brings with it.
Not far from Darvaza there are two more craters of a similar origin, but there is no fire in them. The bottom of one of them is covered with mud, bubbling endlessly under the influence of escaping gas, and the other has a bottom covered with liquid turquoise color.
Recently the village of Darvaza was resettled, but local residents meet on site every year former village, light fires, cook pilaf and remember their life in this place.
In 1971, during drilling work near the Turkmen village of Darvaza, Soviet geologists discovered large cluster underground gas. This is how a unique local attraction appeared, which received the mystical name “Gates of Hell” or “Door to the Underworld.”
Turkmenistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of natural gas reserves. The second largest gas field in the world is also located here. The Darvaza gas crater is located in the center of the Turkmen Karakum desert. It got its name from the nearby village of Darvaza, which was demolished in 2004.
The history of the appearance of the Turkmen Gate of Hell is somewhat tragic. In 1971, geologists carried out exploration work in the area of the village of Darvaza. They set up a drilling rig and began excavation. As a result of searching for gas deposits, a gas-filled cavern (void) was unexpectedly found, into which all the machinery and equipment fell. By luck, none of the expedition members were injured in the incident.
To avoid poisoning from the gas in the cavern, it was decided to set fire to the resulting crater. It was assumed that in a few days the gas reserves would dry up and the fire would subside on its own. However, geologists were mistaken - the gas field turned out to be so large that it still continues to burn.
The Darvaza gas crater is 20 meters deep and 60 meters in diameter. The gas emanating from underground is divided into hundreds of torches that cover the entire surface of the crater. The largest fire torches can reach a height of 10-15 meters. The crater looks especially impressive at night. Due to its terrifying appearance, the gap blazing with a bright flame was called the Gates of Hell.
Near the burning crater there are two more failures of the same origin. At the bottom of one is bubbling light gray mud, at the bottom of the other is a turquoise liquid. According to experts, the area contains vast gas deposits of industrial scale, which may well still be subject to development.
An amazing excursion is offered in Iceland - here tourists can dive into and walk along its bottom.
“Darvaza” translated from Persian means “gate” and this place, located 90 km from the village of Erbent, is often called the “Door to the Underworld” or “Gate of Hell”. The depth of the crater is about 20 meters, and the diameter is 60 meters.
In 1971, near the Turkmenistan village of Darvaza, Soviet geologists discovered an accumulation of underground gas. While drilling an exploratory well, people came across a certain emptiness inside and the earth began to collapse. As a result, a huge hole was formed, oozing gas, into which a drilling rig and other equipment of geologists collapsed. Miraculously, no one was injured in this incident.
Coming to the surface natural gas was harmful to both people and animals. Therefore, while no one was poisoned, the decision was made very quickly to set it on fire. Geologists assumed that the fire would go out within a few days, but since 1971 the gas has been continuously burning day and night.
It was not for nothing that Darvaza was called the “Gate of Hell”. Any Living being, having fallen down, is not able to get back out and is doomed to burn in the inferno of pillars of fire, the height of which can reach 15 meters. The crater, with hot air pierced by tongues of flame, has repeatedly become the last haven for wild animals and careless people who come too close to the crumbling edges.
In 2010, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited Darvaza and said the crater should be filled in or other measures should be taken to limit its impact on gas production in other fields in the area. But as far as we know, the “Door to the Underworld” burns to this day, delighting travelers with a “hellish” glow.
Video – “Gateway to HELL”. Darvaza Crater
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