Karakum

In the midst of the gate to hell Karakum , near the village of Darvaza in Turkmenistan, there is a hole diameter of about 72 meters and a depth of about 30 meters. Within those holes, which locals call that the gates of hell, fire burning for 45 years. This hole is not the work of nature, but is the result of an accident at a Soviet natural gas wells, whose exploitation began fifties of the twentieth century. Drilling in this city, in 1971, caused the collapse of underground caverns, forming a large and deep hole from which they stood out a huge amount of toxic gas. To stop the gas leak, the geologists decided to burn it. However, Soviet scientists have made grossly – gas, which was supposed to be burned for a few weeks, burning continuously since 1971.

Burning a hole located in the center of the Karakum, one of the world’s largest desert, which occupies 80% of the territory of Turkmenistan. All interested tourists guides leading to the place where you can enjoy an amazing view – flame breaks through the side of the crater, but the heat and the sound of the blaze seem daunting; temperature in the center of the hole reaches 400 ° C. Despite the obvious dangers, the city is not fenced, but the braver visitors can look over the edge, which can be very dangerous because the sand at the edges occasionally collapses.

This hole, which is located 270 km north of the capital Ašhabata, has not seen many foreigners because Turkmenistan is a very isolated country. However, the Turkmen authorities are hoping that it will be able to change and that it is this unusual sight to be their ticket to the world of tourism which offers an amazing view – flame breaks through the side of the crater, but the heat and the sound of the blaze seem daunting; temperature in the center of the hole reaches 400 ° C.

Despite the obvious dangers, the city is not fenced, but the braver visitors can look over the edge, which can be very dangerous because the sand at the edges occasionally collapses. This hole, which is located 270 km north of the capital Ašhabata, has not seen many foreigners because Turkmenistan is a very isolated country.