This place in Uzbekistan is called by locals “The Door to Hell”. It is situated near the small town of Darvaz. The story of this place lasts already for 35 years. Once the geologists were drilling for gas. Then suddenly during the drilling they have found an underground cavern, it was so big that all the drilling site with all the equipment and camps got deep deep under the ground. None dared to go down there because the cavern was filled with gas. So they ignited it so that no poisonous gas could come out of the hole, and since then, it’s burning, already for 35 years without any pause. Nobody knows how many tons of excellent gas has been burned for all those years but it just seems to be infinite there.
There is also one video down there:
And the video:
via dmitry.shamin.spb.ru, photos by John H.Bradley
last
Lol.
thats awesome.
and you werent last.
I wonder,what if there’s a typhoon or rain in that area, will it kill the fire?
Probably not. I think the fire is burning methane; it would be extremely difficult to put out with rain. It would probably have to be choked with carbon dioxide, but the government probably decided that it wasn’t worth the cost.
can’t we use those methane for energy? other than just burn it off?
It could, and they were trying that from the sound of it. but the cavern was unstable and near the surface, so when it caved in, they lost the drill hole, the only way to harvest this gas would be a large balloon over the whole site… erected with either flames in the whole, or gas that would smother the workers… it’s a shame to loose it, but it would take more power to get the gas than it would make
Reminds me of Centralia, Pennsylvania in USA where a coal-mine has been on fire for several decades.
I totally agree, its the first thing I though of when I read about this.
Amazing.
thats pretty cool, so you say the equipment got deep deep underground
Not much “cool”guy! ! ! ! ! ! !i feel so anger over the authorities.why they are not able to cool this great energy source?i think some Texas based oil well fire fighting companies has some technical and man power resources.i suggest Uzbek officials may contact to them and save national asset! ! ! ! ! ! !
for make benefit most glorious nation of uzbekistan!!
And to think in some countries they are trying to ban patio heaters – because of their devastating effect on the environment..
it would probably cause far more damage to the environment to let the gas escape
That was what I meant. Why do I bother…
Love that sarcasm 😀
And so are you, you’ve obviously just heard about a possible polar shift and decided to regurgitate what you remember. Your insult about dabbling in theories they know nothing about is incredibly hypocritical. We are not loooooong, loooong overdue. Your just trying to sound intelligent and really don’t know any details. Go research it yourself. This is NOT the longest ‘mild period’ in history. CFC’s have nothing to do with a polar shift. If you were just trolling then you got me.
wtf? do you really think that human beings are even capable of effecting the earth’s climate more than the earth is itself? worse things have happened than a few degrees rise in temperature and guess what: the earth rebounded from it with no problem. people who want to change the earth b/c they think it is hurting itself are the real danger here…
Technically, since there are still large masses of ice on the earth, we are still in an Ice Age, primarily the ending of an Ice Age, so if anything, we will be going into a period where global temperatures rise. Unless something catastrophic happens to drop the temperatures worldwide.
I second that ))
The most persuasive argument is of course to convince them that this hellhole somehow causes terrorism, child pornography, and illegal filesharing. But it might be a bit hard even for governments to imagine that.
This is the best comment I have read in a LONG TIME!!! haha!
Nice report. Don’t mind, but wiki says its in Turkmenistan
Hi Ag, can I have the link to the Wiki article? I looked (in the English one) and I can’t find it. Is it in Wiki RU?
Can you post the Google Maps link? 🙂 Is it visible from there?
Jano, Google Maps is in original post on Dmitry Shamin’s blog.
Can you repost that link here? I went to his site but I only speak English so I can’t find the map link. 🙁
Link to original post with Google Maps – http://dmitry.shamin.spb.ru/blog/show??270
GOOGLE.EARTH Koordinaten – IHR Stricher !! hhähä
40°15’08.31” N 58°26’23.55” E
It’s place in Turkmenistam, not Uzbekistan!
Mr. Cheney’s “undisclosed location”.
LOL
No, we kicked him out from here. He was not a good neighbor, running across the steppe firing his shotgun.
…yes but soon he will be returned to you oh vile one. Better your neighbor than ours.
I was gonna mention that….. although this one looks alot cooler.
I was going to submit this to reddit when I saw this:
http://reddit.com/r/pics/info/6db8d/comments/
linking to a very simmillar article to yours!
just fill the hole, then it’ll run out of oxygen for combustion.
Read up on Centralia, Pennsylvania. They have had underground coal mines burning for many many years, and have tried many things to stop it from burning without success. “just fill the hole” won’t stop it.
It’s a shame all that excellent gas is going to waste.
Perhaps they could cover the hole and put in some equipment so they could harvest the gas.
Or at least harvest the heat. *some* efficiency is better than none.
Some marshmallows and weiners on very long sticks might be nice, too.
Aaarrgghhh! My secret little foreign “getaway” spot has been discovered. This is another good example of why “free” media is so bad. No one can keep the secret anymore.
Now Lukashenko and Chavez will be here every weekend.
Go crawl back into your hole and keep your mouth shut.
Dear D,
Hello my angry little hornet. I knew you would buzz around to sting me with your remarks as soon as I participated on the forum.
It’s okay. I have a new stack of vintage, authentic 8-track disco tapes to soothe the pain.
As long as the CIA doesn’t build a secret “prison” next to it…. perhaps it can be made into a giant garbage incinerator.
Awww yeah!
I’d totally roast me up some delicious shashlik over this flamin’ hole!
Imagine your self being roasted there. Its actually a sign of GOD the Almighty for we all human being to see and understand what lies here after. We have heard about hell and no1 knew what happens after death, coz no1 comes back and tells u that. So GOD has given this opportunity to have a look and to refrain from ill deeds and all sins which he forbid.
May GOD give us the capability to think and understand his signs.
LOL.
My God. Thinking about a loving father making His children pay for mistakes a way like that is sick.
I speak for those who lied once….who never went to church or confessed. Those who believe in God in different ways.
I want to see you giving a gun to your child saying “don´t play with that. It will hurt you” and then your child shoots himself in a leg. So his punishment should be…. burn for eternity…
Pathteic God if you see it that way don´t you think?
I think God meant a Hell inside of us. Remorse, guilt, insecurity… .That is Hell
Deep, deep underground?
How many levels?
Looks like something out of Diablo 2
Actually you all got it wrong. Under Soviet Collectivisation, everything was shared and this was the place where they cooked foods for all the Citizens of USSR using a giant cooking pot. it was abandoned after the collapse of USSR.
Have you and mahmoud been talking?
Yes,Miss Punjabi is equal to Mahmoud.Kick them to this hole…
BBQ halal
Yes, Miss India, the Soviets were collectively feeding people after cooking on this giant oven when millions of Indians were starving. Get a life!
Barbecue,hip hip hura
Does anyone see the face in the flames in the 6th picture from the top? It is just a little left of center and is ridding up the wall of the cave.
It looks like Ringo Star wearing shades and a crown.
I’m enjoying my life now in Pakistanian Himalayas ! CIA pay me millions for my videos
Do they pay you most for the “kill the infidel” videos, or for the sexy videos you make with the Pakistani soldiers you capture?
And the goats and camels. Don’t forget the sexy goats and camels!
It’s “Darvaza” and it is in Turkmenistan, not Uzbekistan. It’s situated in the middle of the Kara Kum desert, between Ashgabat and Dashauz.
I’ve been there. It’s amazing.
Die
:O wow that is amazing !
There is a town in Pennsylvania called Centralia, there has been a coal mine fire burning underground beneath the town for 50 years. The town is now deserted, the roads are all cracked and smoke comes out of them. They think the fire will burn for 250 more years.
boo, yep.
thats where they shot some scenes from the latest Silent hill movie.
but still, Centralia has nothing on this holy hole.
So let it burn?
Actually, burning pure methane produces no pollutants of any kind:
CH4 (Methane) + 2O2 (Oxygen) -> CO2 (Water) + 2H2O
Burning methane produces ONLY CO2 and water. It pollutes less than any tree in the forest. It only pollutes if there isn’t enough oxygen or if there’s something else in the methane. But that wouldn’t be methane, now would it?
Have spent many years in Turkmenistan but never heard of this place. What a waste of valuable resource…
I seriously doubt they would patch this hole in near future. Too many efforts and no one would even bother.
Many years ago something like that hapends in Uzbekistan near Gazly (Bukhara region). My grand-dad was there. But it was just a big burning gaz-borehole with high preasure burning flame. By order from Moscow local drilling people drilled one borehole near by this place. After many endless attempts to stop the flame all personal was evacuated, and our military guys with combat engineers and drilling experts from Moscow just put a little nuclear shell into the new hole and detonate it. Flame was successfully stoped. My grand-dad does’nt know all detales about operation, he just drilled a new hole.
This and Centralia (Pennsylvania town burning for about 50 years already) are amazing. I’ve been through Centralia and the sight of smoke coming from the ground is very eerie.
This Hell Hole, literally, is WOW.
ORODRUIN!!!
what a waste of natures resourses!
We from Hellgate: Eifel would like to greet our friends from Hellgate: Darvaz. You’re a shining example of celebrating hell on earth! May the prince of darkness allways be with you!
Infernal greetings,
Hellgate: Eifel
DONT WORRY, OBAMA THE RACIST WILL FIX IT.
Actually it is not in russia.This place is in Turkmenistan
Ok everyone lets clear something up, its in Turkmenistan, anyone say anything else and my head ‘l blow off, *god some people* Quite interesting, but my fire in my house has been burning for longer than that!!
OK Guys,
The correct city name is Darvaza (means Gate in Farsi language).
Here is the wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darvaza
Cheers,
So the fire is hard to put it out. Why not run pipes of water into the pit, and generate steam or free hoy water?
OMG!! that is kinda freaky.. i really do wonder, how much gas was wasted on that hole.. its kinda weird, thow. idk how.. so yeah.. lol.. alright..
I bet this has absolutely NO CO2 emissions, unlike the US…
Uzbekistan =/= Russia
I’m afraid the information on this page is wrong. The hole is in Turkmenistan and the town is called ‘Darvaza’.
Though just a simple one letter difference ‘Dravaz’ is a district of Badakhshan which is many miles away from the actual location.
The photos of this page are from JohnBradley.com which actually lists quite clearly that it is turkmenistan and Daravaza.
Have some sources to prove such:
http://johnhbradley.com/pictures2.asp?var=070707darvaza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darvaza
I would recommend updating erroneous data.
For Christ sake… global warming is a natural occurrence that happens on Earth SEVERAL times during its geological history. Yes, we are contributing, but not enough so that we’re going to see its effects. These liberal scientists and politicians want you to think that we are going to see some huge change, but a complete polar shift won’t happen for another 10,000 years AT LEAST. The only reason they want to make it seem like global warming is an eminent threat is so that they could rake up profits from hybrid vehicles and “green-friendly” products that do only half the damage to the environment. Wanna save the world? Wipe out mankind.
Very well put…finally someone who thinks instead of following all the Lemmings right off the cliff. I thought I was the only one left in the world that doesn’t buy into the whole global warming lie.
I love your answer on how to save the world. lol
You, know. If the world needs saving, it WILL wipe out mankind all by itself. Like Mr Sample 🙂 said: all these things has happened over and over again in the geological history, and look Earth is still here with us!! Maybe it is already starting to make ready to wipe us all out. Really the only thing ecologists/environmentalists have to worry about is the human species. It’s not like we are crying about dinosaurs being extinct, we don’t need them, the Earth doesn’t need them, it’s the way of the world. Earth doesn’t need us, we need the Earth’s resources and thats the only reason why we have to live sustainably. Please! How would humans be able to destroy an entire planet! We are only destroying ourselves.
they should put it out and put that natural gas to good use! seems like theres alot down there
wow this whole is perfect for hiding corpses! just toss em in there and theyl burn up!
yuo=suxs
The place is definately in Turkmenistan. Here is the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darvaza
Well, I once saw a documentary about a town in Pensylvania abandonned for 50 years or so because of underground coal mine fire. The air had become poisonous and at night you could see the rocks SHINE because of the heat. Seems pretty usual in fact, as the same happened in China, hence not as visible as this Hell Hole. Since we’re talking about impressive, there’s also the 15 natural nuclear reactors in Gabon, which are deep uranium deposits so dense they managed to ignite a fission reaction by themself. Reactions have ended now, but it happened like 1.7 Billions years ago.
Guffaw! Guffaw!
I am wondering when the earth will go into a serious wobble caused by mankind moving all the rock and steel etc. from one place to another? Like a tire or tyre if you’re in Europe. The earth spins at a high rate of speed. If you, move the weights around on a tire you will cause a wobble so intense that at the right speed it could cause the tire to explode.
The only thing I can figure that keeps the earth from shifting or exploding is the water on it. HYDRAULIC BALANCE
“A condition of equal opposed hydraulic forces acting on a part in a hydraulic component.”
The bottom line is Mankind is to the earth what cancer is to the animal world. We are not as smart as we think and will someday kill this planet. Therefore killing ourselves. Brilliant Humans fight, fight, fight for what you will someday kill off anyway. If we focused our energy on the preservation of this amazing place we would all benefit in the end. The people we should learn from are the native tribes of earth not the so called educated modern people.
Just my take.
It’s always funny when someone takes the argument that people are somehow separate from “the animal world” or not a part of the earth. People are a product and therefor a part of the earth, so the earth can blame itself for it’s own destruction. Why can’t people accept that mankind is a natural phenomenon, no different than the collapsing of a massive star into a blackhole? It’s not so much that what humans are doing is “right” or “wrong”, as destruction is a huge part of nature. It just may not be to liking of humans in our self-centered view. I’m not talking about the selfish industrial capitalist view of destruction for profit, but the selfish view that we can maintain the current state of the earth; that this is somehow the right way, with people and all the plants and animals around today. The selfish view that we don’t want things to change, because we fear change. The “native tribes” you speak of had their chance and they lost out to evolution. It’s not about being educated, it’s just about evolution. Humans are not only evolving just like everything else, but humanity is a huge part of the course of evolution and may even lead to its own successors…
Goooooo Cyberdyne!
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/vdunet/20080708/ttc-boffins-build-artificial-dna-6315470.html
when I first saw the pictures and read the article, I thought….wow.
However, after thinking about it for a while I thought: what loss… so much gas burning since the 70s, that is a total loss it must cost billions of dollars, I mean it couldn’t have just happend by accident, there must have been a political conspiracy behind it, or else why not put it out and benefit from what is left of that gas?!!
ho god,, it’s really frightful
but there’s still a question :
HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN BURNING?
guess it’s only been printed 5-10 times in comments—35 years, hatem, 35 years. Got it now??
SAY AGAIN …. HAHAHA
they should just nuke it!!! 🙂
This is so wrong.
Firstly, its near a village (more like 1 yurt) calld DARVAZA. Secondly it’s in TURKMENISTAN. Yes, central Turkmenistan, in the Karakum desert. Nowhere near Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has no natural gas reserves to speak of.
They’re not wasting much here because it’s uneconomical to transport this gas anywhere (it’s in the middle of nowhere), and it’s not really that much gas considering the proved reserves they have. The amount of gas that is burnt off in a day can probably power a western household for all of about an hour, so no-one cares.
Thanks. Please do some research on central asia, it’s a fascinating and beautiful place.
wastage of energy i say it has to be used properly.
Why do you guys wanna shut it off, I think it looks kinda kewl the way it is…If we could harness the energy, all were gonna do is burn it off on the freeways or some other wasteful way.
I guess I see things differntly. I can see the beauty in it…Thank god for things like this, it makes you think.
wowww, GOD BLESS US
I just heard about this hole in a Los Angeles talk radio. I was fascinated.
we re blessed by God’s love.. the world is such a fantastic place to live..(i mean natural reserves not cities)
i love o be a human being!!
tak!
mcdonalda tam postwacie!
i klepcie hajs!
a co?
should be called now, the Madoff’s Gate to Hell…
Madoff’s Gate to Hell ????
I don’t know much about gases or gas fires but couldn’t you put a pipe down to the bottom were the gases are not ignited and suck it out, effectively harvesting the gases and putting out the fire?
read Dante. a little.
please.
with all the intelligent people of the world there has to be some way to use this as an energy source. If not maybe we can dump all the BS and haters in there. with the abundant supply we might be able to put out the fire or close it up. sorry, I can’t make it I have plans.
imazing that earth give place those like that, from the concept of ‘yin yang’in our life about balance of economic was needed, expecialy for industrial tools how become a garbage on earth…probably for destroyed it. and i hope so
They complain about exhaust emissions and greenhouse gasses and spray can florocarbons. wonder what kind of effect this has on the environment. Think the heat and fire like this would have some effect on global warming on the ozone. And I worry what effect my broken florescent bulbs will do. No more guilt here.
This place is in turkministan
Who else is thinking ‘Global warming’?
Have’nt read all commentaries, but the Door to hell is situated in Turkmenistan.
Would it not make sense to build a structure over the opening (to contain the heat)and line it with water pipes to drive steam generators?
This does not have to be a waste and if it’s going to pollute the environment, why have it done in vain?
okay. so this has been contributing to global warming for the past 35 years. wonderful.
This crater’s coordinates are 40° 15′ 8″ N, 58° 26′ 23″ E, and it really is in Turkmenistan.
I thought this was COAL burning undergroud?
I think God did not want us to be afraid of these. It is one of His way to show that He loves us so much. Yes it is a warning for us to chose life from death. God wants us to be with Him in heaven. I think it is God’s one way to show that hell is really real so that we will wake up and chose to be with Him.
God loves us so much!!!
Everyone of us has different ideas or views regarding these and I respect that. This is only my opinion and views…
Hurry Frodo! Cast The Ring into the fire!
WTFEver! Fantastical photos, thnx
for make benefit most glorious nation of uzbekistan….
I went to his site but I only speak English so I can t find the map link…
When I first saw the story behind the hole, I was really stunned. It’s really amazing how it has been going for more than 3 decades.
CO2 coming out, to this ones belief ,is 5/6 % less than gasoline
Whoah, a real hell gate
This hole is not in Uzbekistan but in Turkmenistan.
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I haven’t read all the comments, BUT I cannot see any reason why, (if there is a town nearby, or factory to be built), a Corporation couldn’t capitalize on this burning methane (gas) hole and cap it. With piping ready to feed it to a town for cheap heat and power, the initial capping would snuff the oxygen and pressure would instantly feed the piping to whatever use was deemed INCREDIBLY profitable. The initial implementation is the expensive part that will be offset by the free fuel savings. If no town is nearby, then a factory would run without the need for fuel, etc. Am I wrong? If so, fine. Wasting anything useful is a terrible thing and we ALL do it. The factory could empower impoverished people to give them a future. ?????
Graves galore…
Interesting?
I live in Colorado, southwest usa. there is a coal seam that is burning underground near glennwood springs and rifle colo. it occasionally starts forest fires
S’mores, you say?
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dump tons of concrete in the hole then it might fill it
Put a big metal grill over it. Bring burgers.
Omega Replica
>>
Doh! Oceans on fire. GJ guys.
…why do people always love to resort to the ‘kill it with fire! approach? Even with the recent oil disaster, they just had to give it a shot… ><
Doh! Oceans on fire. GJ guys.
Once again another great blog post. I actually have a couple of things to ask you, would be have some time to answer them?
hola ire al infierno por ser poner ganas
Canon 300d consumer manual. I just bought a frequented Canon 300D, as well as this didn’t come via a guide. Is here anywhere I could perhaps could download it? Or maybe a web site by tips?
last!
Proof positive the russians have caused global warming, see the video
Ronald Reagan
Enjoyed many of the comments but must say.
Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools.
It’s definitely in Turkmenistan, about 3 hours across the border from Uzbekistan:
http://yourenotfromaroundhere.com/blog/2006/09/29/hell-is-great-hell-turkmenistan/
I think the gas is flamable that’s why the fire can’t be turn off. I also think that if the fire continues like that for ever I’m afraid it might cause the underground to melt. To make it worse who knows how deep is the fire melting underground surface. Everyone knows inside our planet there is plenty of melted magma or what ever they called it. I’m worry that if they meet the two might explode and come out of the surface and disaster will strike.
I think the fire is flamable that’s why the fire cant turn off not even by the rain water,snow or even the cold climate can’t turn it off. I’m worry that the fire causes underground to melt. My theory is that if it keeps burning and melt underground everyone knows theres plenty of fire inside our planet and both meet it might cause an explosion. The explosion might cause a disturbing earthquake or a super volcano to form.
I think the only way to turn it off by learning about the past what type of gas was it. And then they could test the samething with another gas, the same as the other but don’t to try the same mistake from the photograph. Finally they could try a powerful chemical that is able to turn off the gas the is flamable then they could put huge amount inside the door of hell. Seriously before its to late or something bad happens in the future. It’s better to do it early before it’s too late.
Thank you from sharing the photograph I’m glad I could write it. I just want the people from the country to be safe and I don’t want people to get hurt or die and I think my idea coul safe their life . I hope I could help hopefully somebody could turn it off I would love to help but I can’t, is not that I don’t want to help is because I’m just a student.
Dear Poster of these wonderful pix. I wonder why you still keep the wrong name of location. It is obviously in Turkmenistan, and there is absolutely no doubt about that. Instead of making people point the error over and over again, is not it easier just to correct the location in the caption?
That is why man is not mint to know the secrets of life. Just look at the free natural gas they could have had for free.
Where is the Simpson’s movie glass dome? It could be used to remove all air eheheh! Why don’t they throw steel pipes with water in it and pump heated water?
This reminds me of that town in the US that had to be evacuated because of the fire that started in a mine and has been burning ever since!
Isıdan faydalanmayı düşünmek gerek. Boşa gitmesin.
Human must be use this energy.
Turkmenistan NOT Uzbekistan
I am constantly searching online for posts that can facilitate me. Thanks!