Latest update:28 December 2025 at 4:29 PM IST

“Hell’s Door,” a fiery crater that has been burning nonstop since 1971, was born from a drilling accident that scientists never expected to last.

The Darvaza gas crater, also known as the “Door to Hell,” is located in Turkmenistan. (Image: Getty)

Our world is much stranger than it seems, and you will only truly realize it when you discover its hidden secrets. One of these amazing places is located deep in the desert of Turkmenistan, a site that has fascinated people around the world for decades.

It is known as the “Gate of Hell”. This is not a scene from a movie, but a very real place on Earth, a place that has been burning continuously for over 50 years.

The terrifying and mysterious site is officially called Darvaza Gas Crater. Locals also refer to it as “Shining Karakum”. It is a huge crater where flames burn endlessly as natural gas continues to escape from underground. This crater is located near the village of Darvaza, in the heart of the vast Karakum Desert.

The mystery behind the “Door to Hell”

The story behind the so-called “Hell’s Door” dates back to 1971. At that time, geologists from the Soviet Union were prospecting in the area in search of natural gas.

During excavations, a large underground gas chamber suddenly collapsed, creating a huge crater. Soon after, toxic gases began leaking from the crater, posing a serious threat to nearby areas.

To prevent the spread of toxic gas, scientists made a bold decision. They believed that setting the gas on fire would burn it completely and prevent it from leaking further.

Engineers assumed the fire would go away on its own within a few weeks. However, their predictions proved wrong. The fire that ignited that day is still burning five decades later.

Experts believe that the main reason why the fires have continued for so long is Turkmenistan’s vast reserves of natural gas. The country ranks fourth in the world in terms of gas reserves. Interestingly, there is no official government record of this incident. Either the files were kept secret or were not published at all.

The Darvaza gas crater is estimated to be 60 to 70 meters wide and about 98 feet deep. At night, the flames can be seen from several kilometers away, creating a surreal and eerie scene in the middle of the desert.

According to a report by the Daily Star, a new development has now emerged regarding Hell’s Gate. Turkmenistan’s state-owned gas company, Turkmengaz, announced in a press conference that the fire inside the pit had gradually begun to fade.

The terrifying and mysterious site is officially called Darvaza Gas Crater. Locals also refer to it as “Ishraq Karakum”. It is a huge crater where flames burn endlessly as natural gas continues to escape from underground. This crater is located near the village of Darvaza, in the heart of the vast Karakum Desert.

The mystery behind the “Door to Hell”

The story behind the so-called “Hell’s Door” dates back to 1971. At that time, geologists from the Soviet Union were prospecting in the area in search of natural gas.

During excavations, a large underground gas chamber suddenly collapsed, creating a huge crater. Soon after, toxic gases began leaking from the crater, posing a serious threat to nearby areas.

To prevent the spread of toxic gas, scientists made a bold decision. They believed that setting the gas on fire would burn it completely and prevent it from leaking further.

Engineers assumed the fire would go away on its own within a few weeks. However, their predictions proved wrong. The fire that ignited that day is still burning five decades later.

Experts believe that the main reason why the fires have continued for so long is Turkmenistan’s vast reserves of natural gas. The country ranks fourth in the world in terms of gas reserves. Interestingly, there is no official government record of this incident. Either the files were kept secret or were not published at all.

The Darvaza gas crater is estimated to be 60 to 70 meters wide and about 98 feet deep. At night, the flames can be seen from several kilometers away, creating a surreal and eerie scene in the middle of the desert.

According to a report by the Daily Star, a new development has now emerged regarding Hell’s Gate. Turkmenistan’s state-owned gas company, Turkmengaz, announced in a press conference that the fire inside the pit had gradually begun to fade.

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