Totalitarian regimes have a habit of portraying themselves as well-oiled machines, churning out remarkable achievements in science, engineering, and military technology. The Soviet Union was no exception. Throughout the Cold War, it sought to impress the capitalist world with its industrial prowess, space exploration, and military advancements. But with grand ambition often comes spectacular failure, and the Soviets were not immune to pulling off some of the most embarrassing mishaps in history.
Some of these failures resulted in tragic disasters—nuclear meltdowns, ill-conceived military vehicles, and poorly timed purges of key personnel. But among the many Soviet blunders, one stands out as a unique oddity, turning a catastrophe into an unintentional tourist attraction.
A Portal to the Inferno
Located in the heart of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, the Darvaza Crater is a massive, perpetually burning pit of fire. The crater is about 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter and 30 meters (98 feet) deep—large enough to fit three U.S. Capitol rotundas or hold the water of 45 Olympic-sized swimming pools. But no amount of water would ever be enough to extinguish the flames.
What makes this phenomenon so remarkable is that the fire has been burning continuously for decades. Flames reach up to 15 meters (50 feet) into the air, and temperatures inside the crater soar to 1,000°C (1,832°F)—hotter than the surface of Venus. Standing near the edge is an intense experience, as visitors feel waves of searing heat radiating from the inferno.
At night, the crater is particularly breathtaking. The deep orange-red glow illuminates the surrounding desert, creating an eerie and unsettling spectacle. Many visitors liken the sight to a portal to another dimension, a post-apocalyptic landscape, or even the fiery gates of Hell itself. Some say it resembles a gigantic dragon’s mouth, smoldering and spewing flames into the night.
But how did this bizarre phenomenon come to be?
The Soviet Oopsie That Created the Gates of Hell
To understand the origins of the Darvaza Crater, we have to travel back in time to 1971 (or possibly 1963, depending on different accounts).
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union aggressively sought to exploit natural resources, and Turkmenistan, rich in oil and natural gas, was no exception. The Karakum Desert covers nearly 70% of Turkmenistan’s landmass and contains some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves. The Darvaza Crater is located in the Zygly-Dervaza gas field, right in the middle of this energy-rich region.
A team of Soviet geologists was sent to explore the area, drilling into the desert floor in search of valuable gas deposits. Unfortunately, they made a serious miscalculation. They unknowingly placed their drilling rig over a massive underground cavern. When they began drilling, the weight of their equipment caused the unstable ground to collapse, swallowing the rig and revealing a deep, gaping chasm.
At first, the collapse was just an expensive blunder—the Soviets had lost valuable equipment. But soon, they realized a far more serious problem. The newly exposed crater was leaking massive amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere, creating an environmental hazard.
The Soviet “Solution”
Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas—up to 83 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. The geologists, concerned about the dangers of the leaking gas (and possibly the risk of an explosion), decided on what they believed was a “shrewd and environmentally responsible” solution:
🔥 They set the gas on fire.
The idea was that the flames would burn off the methane within a few weeks, and once the fire died down, the area could be safely developed.
But there was one major problem: they massively underestimated the amount of gas underground.
Instead of burning out in a few weeks, the flames never stopped.
From Soviet Secret to Global Sensation
At first, the Darvaza Crater was largely forgotten. The Soviet Union had bigger concerns—like maintaining communist control and keeping up with the arms race. The burning crater in the middle of the desert simply wasn’t a priority.
For decades, it remained an obscure, eerie landmark known mostly to local villagers. When Turkmenistan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the crater continued to burn, but the outside world remained largely unaware of its existence.
However, by the early 2000s, Turkmenistan began cautiously opening up to tourism. Officials realized that the “Gates of Hell” could actually become a major attraction for adventurous travelers. Tour agencies started offering trips to the crater, allowing visitors to camp overnight by the fiery pit and witness its otherworldly glow in the vast desert darkness.
But it wasn’t until 2013 that the crater gained international fame, thanks to a daring expedition.
A Descent into Hell
In 2013, explorer George Kourounis, a National Geographic-funded adventurer, became the first person to ever descend into the Darvaza Crater. His goal? To collect samples and search for extremophile bacteria—microorganisms that thrive in extreme environments.
Wearing a heat-resistant suit and breathing apparatus, Kourounis rappelled into the fiery depths. He later described the experience as “a coliseum of fire”, where thousands of flames roared around him like the engines of a jet plane.
Amazingly, scientists did discover bacteria living inside the crater, proving that life can exist in incredibly hostile conditions. This discovery has major implications for astrobiology—if bacteria can survive in the Darvaza Crater, similar organisms could potentially survive on other planets with extreme environments.
A Dictator’s Love-Hate Relationship with the Flames
Turkmenistan’s government has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the Darvaza Crater.
In 2010, then-President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow called the crater “an inconvenient environmental hazard” and proposed extinguishing it. But instead of shutting it down, his statements only made the crater more famous as travelers rushed to see it before it was potentially closed.
By 2019, Berdimuhamedow had an unexpected change of heart. After rumors of his death spread, he reappeared dramatically—drifting a rally car around the crater in a high-octane stunt that made global headlines.
However, in January 2022, he once again vowed to extinguish the flames, arguing that Turkmenistan was wasting valuable natural gas. His government explored several options, including:
- Filling the crater with sand or clay (risky, could cause an explosion).
- Sealing it with a heat-resistant dome (very expensive).
- Controlled explosions to collapse the walls (could create more craters).
- Drilling new wells to redirect the gas (the most viable option).
A Fading Inferno?
By 2024, the Turkmen government had successfully drilled a bypass well near the crater, significantly reducing emissions. Satellite imagery confirms that the flames are less intense than before. While the crater still burns, it may finally be losing its legendary fire.
Conclusion: The Mythical Dragon’s Final Breath
The Darvaza Gas Crater, born from Soviet incompetence, ignored for decades, and later transformed into a global spectacle, may soon be extinguished. Whether viewed as a monument to human error or an incredible natural wonder, it has fascinated travelers and scientists alike.
If the flames do die out, they will leave behind an eerie, empty pit—a reminder of one of the strangest accidents in history.
Until then, the Gates of Hell remain open.
FAQs About the Darvaza Gas Crater
Q: Can you visit the Darvaza Crater?
Yes! Tourists can visit the crater, though it requires a long desert drive.
Q: Is the crater dangerous?
Standing near the edge can be risky due to heat and toxic fumes.
Q: How long will the flames last?
With the government’s efforts to extinguish them, the fire may not burn forever.
Q: Why is it called the “Gates of Hell”?
Because of its fiery, otherworldly appearance.
Q: Could similar craters exist elsewhere?
Yes! But none are as large or famous as Darvaza.
