Darvaza Gas Crater
Darvaza Gas Crater is a failure in a massive natural gas field in the Zaunguz Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. For almost half a century, the dangerous site has been engulfed by fire, attracting numerous researchers and tourists. The diameter of the funnel is more than 60 meters, and its depth is about 30 meters. People call the location “the entrance to the underworld” or “hell’s gate”. It is the most mystical attraction of Turkmenistan.
Video: Darvaz Gas Crater
” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen>%https://www.youtube.com/embed/OrfiiGMXQyM” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen> Contents- History of Darwaza Gas Crater
- Other craters
- Exploring the “fire gate”
- Important to know
- How to get there
History of Darwaza Gas Crater
The word Darvaza means “gate” in Persian. Near the settlement of Darvaza in 1971, researchers discovered an underground accumulation of gas. Geologists decided to equip a well to obtain more accurate data. Almost immediately after digging into the ground, the drill encountered a large underground cavity, where the entire work site, including transportation, equipment and the tower itself, fell through.
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There were no injuries in the incident, but casualties could soon appear, as gas was escaping from the hole. To prevent a full-scale ecological disaster due to poisoning of people, flora and fauna, the hole was set on fire. According to geologists’ calculations, the discovered methane reserves should have been exhausted in just a few days. As a result, the burning stretched for many years.
.Some Turkmen scientists are sure that the Darvaza gas crater was formed back in the 1960s, but this version is not official. In 2004, the nearest village was demolished and its residents were relocated closer to the railroad station of the same name. In 2010, the president of the country personally visited this unusual landmark and ordered to fill in the sinkhole or take any other measures to limit the leakage of a valuable natural resource. Despite this, no action plan was ever developed.
In 2013, a scientific study of Darvaz began. Specialists stated that modern technology and slant drilling on the side of more stable soil areas could allow the field to be utilized. Additionally, closed wells reinforced with rebar were present at the site. These could be opened up in the future to continue production.
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Other craters
The fire pit is not the only gas crater in the Darwaza. Not far from the famous failure are several of its less popular “brethren”. They are also places where natural gas escapes, but the methane pressure here is much lower, so the craters do not burn. The bottom of one failure is covered with bubbling gray mud, while the other is turquoise.
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Coming to these places, taking a look at such unusual natural sights is also worthwhile. These craters are less impressive, so they should be viewed during daylight hours. The best option is to arrive a couple of hours before sunset and first go to the colored failures, and closer to dusk to admire the “fiery gate.”
Exploring the ‘fire gate’
How to get there
Darvaza is located at the intersection of the borders of the Akhal and Dashoguz regions in the northwestern part of Turkmenistan. The attraction is located 266 kilometers northward from Ashgabat and 90 kilometers from the settlement of Yerbent. It is most convenient to get here by rented car, which can be easily rented in the capital. Taking into account the distance of the trip, you should correctly calculate the duration of the use of transport.
.From the highway it is necessary to turn to a country road, which changes to sand a few hundred meters before the crater. The car can be left at some distance from the failure, as it is not easy to cross this section of the path even on foot. To get closer without the risk of getting stuck in the sand, you should rent an off-road vehicle. In general, the trail and even the dirt road are of very high quality, and the route has been popular with tourists from all over the world for decades. This means that finding the famous landmark will be easy.
.A few kilometers south of the Darvaz gas crater you can have lunch at a roadside cafe, but the nearest stores and other infrastructure are in Yerbent. It is advisable to take care of a full tank of gas and at least a minimum supply of food and drinks for all participants of the trip.
