Turkmenistan’s ‘Door to Hell’ Set to Close After Decades of Burning

Rapid Summary

• The Darvaza Gas Crater, nicknamed the “door to Hell,” in Turkmenistan is a human-made inferno that has burned continuously for over 50 years.
• It was accidentally created in 1971 when Soviet geologists drilled into an underground gas pocket and ignited it to prevent toxic gas leaks.
• The crater measures approximately 230 feet wide and 100 feet deep, with temperatures exceeding 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Turkmenistan’s government has struggled for decades to deal with the blaze, which attracts over 10,000 visitors annually.
• At a recent international conference in Ashgabat, the state energy company Turkmengaz announced a important reduction in fires-down nearly threefold-and described efforts to capture leaking methane using containment wells.
• Experts say the crater’s once visible glow across miles of desert now requires closer inspection for visibility.

Read More

Indian Opinion Analysis
The diminishing intensity of fires at Turkmenistan’s Darvaza Gas Crater is noteworthy not only as an environmental achievement but also as an example of managing long-term ecological challenges through engineering intervention like methane containment wells. For India-a major user and producer of natural gas-the incident underscores the importance of meticulous resource exploration practices to minimize risks associated with drilling accidents that could led to environmental disasters or wasted resources.

India could draw lessons from this case about advancing innovative technologies for reducing methane emissions during extraction and addressing post-extraction leakage concerns effectively while maintaining environmental safety standards. Additionally, given India’s aspirations to boost sustainable tourism around its natural wonders (e.g., volcanic sites), balancing preservation while ensuring safety remains critical when developing such attractions on a global stage.