The Door to Hell: A 50-Year-Old Burning Crater in Turkmenistan

What if I told you there’s a hole in Turkmenistan that’s been on fire for over 50 years—and it’s called the Door to Hell?

Back in 1971, Soviet geologists were drilling for natural gas near a village called Darvaza.

Suddenly, the ground collapsed, creating a crater nearly 230 feet wide and 65 feet deep.

Methane started leaking out—a lot.

To stop the poisonous gas from spreading, scientists lit it on fire, hoping it would burn out in days.

But decades later, it’s still blazing.

Why? There’s just that much gas hidden underground, feeding the flames nonstop.

At night, the crater glows like a bonfire from another planet—so hot you can feel it from the edge.

Locals say it attracts tourists but scares off wildlife.

No one actually knows when—or if—it’ll ever stop burning.

Just imagine: a scientific mistake turned into Earth’s most unintentional campfire.