The Door to Hell Turkmenistan EXPLAINED - Gates of Hell Crater GEOLOGY - The Darvaza Gas Crater

The Door to Hell Turkmenistan, a fiery pit that has been burning relentlessly in the heart of the desert for over 50 years, looks like a movie set or the entrance to the underworld. But it is, in fact, a real place. The Door to Hell Turkmenistan also goes by names like The Gates of Hell, the Darvaza Gas Crater, and The Shining of Karakum. But how exactly was this massive fiery crater formed, and why has it been burning nonstop for decades?

This post is all about the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan. Join me on this exploration of the Gates of Hell crater to discover its intriguing origins and features, understand its environmental impact, and uncover other similar fascinating geological structures around the world.

The Geology of the Darvaza Gas Crater

The Door to Hell crater is located in Turkmenistan’s remote Karakum Desert, near the village of Darvaza, hence the name, the Darvaza gas crater. It is located about 160 miles (260 kilometers) north of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.

The Darvaza Gas Crater lies in the Amu-Darya Basin—a province stretching across parts of both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that is rich in natural resources, like oil and gas. And it's these natural resources, specifically the methane gas, that fuel the Gate of Hell.

How was the Door to Hell Turkmenistan formed?

The exact origins of the Door to Hell remain uncertain due to missing or classified records from the Soviet era. However, the most widely circulated story about the Darvaza crater's origins dates back to 1971, when Soviet geologists were drilling for natural gas in Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert. As they were drilling, the ground suddenly gave way, creating a massive crater about 226 feet (69 meters) across and about 98 feet (30 meters) deep, exposing a vast underground reservoir of natural gas.

Concerned about the potential impact of the dangerous methane gas on the nearby communities, the scientists set the gas on fire to prevent it from escaping the hole. They expected it to burn out within weeks, but, as it turns out, the methane resources were even more abundant than they expected. The crater continued burning for decades, and it still burns today. Though, by some accounts, the flames are currently much smaller than they once were, so maybe sometime in the future they will die out.

So if you want to visit the Gate of Hell, now would be the time to do it.

Would you do it? Would you go on there on a holiday? I would definitely like to visit the Darvaza crater. Let me know in the comments if you would also like to see these eternal flames for yourself, before they stop being so eternal.

What Causes the Flames of the Gates of Hell Crater?

The Door to Hell crater, Turkmenistan

The flames at the Darvaza Crater are caused by natural methane gas escaping from the surrounding rocks through fractures and permeable rock units whose interconnected pore spaces form channels that allow the gas to pass through them.

As the gas seeps into the crater, especially where loose rock fragments and debris (called talus) meet the crater walls, it ignites, creating thousands of small flames. These flames flicker across the crater walls and floor, making it look like the Earth itself is breathing fire, thus creating a fiery spectacle that resembles the opening of the Door to Hell.

Environmental Impact of the Fires from the Door to Hell Crater

The continuous burning of natural gas at the Door to Hell has had several significant environmental consequences, both locally and on a wider-scale.

First, we need to address the potential impact on climate change. The burning of natural gas releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. These are powerful greenhouse gases whose long-term emission contributes to climate change.

Besides the greenhouse gasses, the fire also releases harmful air pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles. All these chemicals can degrade the air quality and affect the health of nearby people, animals, and plants.

The extreme heat generated by the crater may also damage local habitats and disrupt native ecosystems.

The original drilling incident that created the crater may have led to groundwater contamination from leaked chemicals or drilling fluids, posing significant environmental risks to our natural heritage.

Due to all these environmental concerns at Darvaza crater, the Turkmen government has been considering closing the site to limit further ecological harm, though no action has been taken yet.

Geological Sites Similar to the Gates of Hell Turkmenistan

Eternal Flame Falls in New York

We can find geological features similar to the Door to Hell in other places around the world, including Indonesia, the US, and Azerbaijan.

At Eternal Flame Falls in New York, a small waterfall hides a magical, yet natural, surprise—a flickering flame fueled by methane gas seeping from underground shale formations, creating an enchanting fiery spectacle behind the water curtain.

Yanar Dag, or the “Burning Mountain” of Azerbaijan, is a fiery hillside that’s been blazing for centuries, fueled by natural gas seeping from underground and igniting in the open air—like the Door to Hell, but on a slant!

The Kawah Ijen volcano in East Java, Indonesia, is famous for its burning vents, where sulfur gas is released from the volcano's vents. When this gas escapes and meets the oxygen-rich air, it ignites and burns. What makes this site truly magical is what happens next—especially at night. The result is a breathtaking sight—glowing blue flames that have captured the fascination of visitors from around the world.

Centralia, a ghost town in Pennsylvania, USA, has been burning beneath the surface since 1962. It all began with an underground coal mine fire whose flames spread through a vast network of mining tunnels. As the fire raged below, cracks opened in the ground, releasing toxic gases and smoke into the town, making it uninhabitable and forcing its residents to evacuate. Amazingly, the fire is still burning to this day.

While each geological site has its own unique origins and features, they do share some similarities with Door to Hell, such as their naturally occurring gas ignitions and their environmental impact.