‘Other-worldly’: Turkmenistan’s firey ‘Gates of Hell’ could soon close

It’s the major tourist drawcard in one of the world’s least visited countries, but all signs say its days are numbered.

Turkmenistan’s firey ‘Gates of Hell’ could soon close. Picture: iStock

It’s been likened to something out of a science fiction film. But the “Gates of Hell” in Turkmenistan – a giant gas crater popular among tourists – could soon be closing.

The Darvaza crater, located in the Karakum Desert in the central Asian country, has been burning for decades. Measuring a mesmerising 70 metres wide and 30 metres deep, the crater has stayed alight thanks to methane escaping from its crust.

“To stand on the edge of the crater is such a surreal experience. You hear the roar of the flames and feel the intense heat,” Dylan Harris, who founded UK-based Lupine Travel, which brings tourists to Turkmenistan, told news.com.au.

“When you view it from a distance, it feels even more bizarre. A huge flaming hole in the middle of a flat barren desert. There is nowhere else on Earth like it. It feels other-worldly.”

The Darvaza crater measures 70 metres wide and 30 metres deep. Picture: iStock

Mysterious origins

The origins of the crater is shrouded in mystery. Many believe it formed after a Soviet drilling operation attempted to drill for natural gas in 1971 and set off a chain reaction.

However, local geologists have suggested it was formed in the 1960s but wasn’t ignited until 20 years later, CNN reports.

Theories about what started the fire range from a hand grenade to a drunk farmer who drove his tractor into the crater, George Kourounis, a Canadian adventurer and television presenter, told the outlet.

The giant gas crater has been burning for decades. Picture: iStock

Decades on, the crater has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction.

Mr Harris said his tour company has been running trips to the crater since 2010, with their bookings now double that of five years ago.

However he warned the crater’s fiery days are numbered.

The lights are going out

In 2022, the state-run Neytralny Turkmenistan newspaper reported the then-President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, had ordered the site’s closure amid health and environmental concerns.

According to the publication, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister “was instructed to gather scientists, and if necessary, to attract foreign consultants and find a solution for extinguishing the fire”.

Since then, there has been no official confirmation from the government that the fire will be put out. But there’s been talks of it.

“From my most recent visit last month in August, I saw a lot of heavy machinery being brought in to the outskirts of the crater, so it appears that another attempt to extinguish it is imminent,” said Mr Harris.

Known as the ‘gates of hell’ the origins of the crater remain a mystery. Picture: iStock

The popular tourist attraction could soon be closing. Picture: Igor Sasin/AFP

Even without government intervention, Mr Harris said the flames are already going out, with the crater burning less than half the amount it was 15 years ago.

“Although the crater is still burning and well illuminated at night, it’s now only burning at around 40 per cent of the level I first witnessed there in 2009.”

“At that time, a much larger area of the crater had flames burning across it back then. There are less now, and they are not as high as they were.”

‘Extremely worried’: Trouble for Turkmenistan if crater closes

He said he has “mixed feelings” about its possible closure. While he understands the need to extinguish the flames for environmental reasons, its demise would be a loss for the country’s tourism sector.

“Being the country’s biggest tourist attraction, the crater brings in well-needed income for guides, drivers, shop owners, local restaurants etc. This is one of the least visited countries on Earth – so these visitors are an extremely important source of income for anyone over there involved in the tourism industry.”

“Many locals are extremely worried about it and feel that tourism will totally stop if it’s extinguished, and they’ll lose their jobs.”

The cater is said to be burning at around 40 per cent of the level it was in 2009. Picture: Igor Sasin/AFP

While Mr Harris said while there would be a drop in numbers if the crater closes, he has hope tourists will still visit Turkmenistan.

“The capital Ashgabat is one of the most unique cities on Earth – golden statues and all the buildings across the entire city are clad in white marble. It’s a huge tourist attraction in its own right and I think the focus will transfer here if it becomes no longer possible to visit the crater.”

In the meantime, for those thinking about visiting the crater, his advice is clear: “Do it soon before it’s too late.”

“The level of flames will continue to lower each year so there won’t be any better time to see it than right now.”