The fiery spectacle of the Darvaza Gas Crater, feared and revered as the ‘Gate to Hell,’ has dimmed significantly after over fifty years of continuous burning. Turkmenistan’s government announced that the massive blaze, located in the heart of the Karakum Desert, is now largely under control, marking a historic milestone in environmental and resource management efforts for the country.
A Fiery Origin
The story of the Darvaza Gas Crater began in 1971 when Soviet scientists attempted to study and manage methane leaks in the desert. Digging into what they believed was a minor pocket of natural gas, they inadvertently pierced a massive underground gas field. When the drilling rig and associated equipment suddenly collapsed into the cavern below, toxic gases began escaping uncontrollably. To prevent the spread of noxious fumes, the team decided to ignite the methane, hoping it would burn out in a matter of days.
They were wrong. Instead of a quick resolution, the crater transformed into the longest-burning man-made fire, its eerie yellow flames licking at the edges of the 200-meter-wide pit. Visible from miles away, the burning crater became a bizarre and otherworldly landmark, attracting adventurers, scientists, and tourists alike.
From ‘Gate to Hell’ to ‘Shining of Karakum’
Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland
Now officially named the ‘Shining of Karakum,’ the Darvaza Gas Crater has been both a source of national pride and a symbol of environmental mismanagement. The flames and the heat haze rising from the crater have drawn global attention, but they have also brought concerns. Methane seepage from the pit has been a major environmental issue, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, some locals living in the harsh desert environment have long argued that the crater should be extinguished, citing health risks and economic losses due to the wastage of valuable natural gas.
A Turning Point in Fire Containment
The efforts to extinguish the ‘Gate to Hell’ reached a decisive turning point in January 2022, when then-President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered action to put out the flames, emphasizing the detrimental effects of the blaze on the environment and the squandered financial potential of the escaping gas. However, earlier attempts over the decades failed to curtail the inferno.
This time, Turkmengaz, the state energy company, launched a sustained effort involving drilling additional wells around the crater to capture and divert the methane. According to Irina Luryeva, a director at Turkmengaz, these operations have significantly reduced the volume and intensity of the fire. “Whereas before, a massive glow from the blaze was visible for miles, today only faint combustion remains,” Luryeva stated. Independent satellite data confirmed the success, showing a threefold reduction in methane emissions from the site.
Global Collaboration and Environmental Initiatives
The containment of the Darvaza blaze is a result not just of national initiative but also of international collaboration. In March 2024, Turkmenistan partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to address methane emissions comprehensively. The project included advanced monitoring technologies and strategies to manage methane leaks across the country’s energy sector.
A Complex History of Displacement and Mystery
Residents in Darvaza; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland
The Darvaza site has its own shadowy history. The nearby settlement of Darvaza, meaning ‘gate’ in Turkmen, was once a thriving community close to the Soviet drilling site before disaster struck. While some believe the fire was intentionally ignited by the Soviets, a legend tells how a local herder, frustrated by the fumes poisoning his sheep, set a tire alight and rolled it into the hole.
The region’s history took another turn in 2004 when then-President Saparmurat Niyazov ordered the forced relocation of the Darvaza villagers, declaring the settlement an eyesore. Residents were reportedly given just an hour to pack their belongings before being expelled. Today, a handful of displaced villagers still live in makeshift homes on the fringes of the desert, many reliant on tourism linked to the crater for their livelihoods.
A Future Without Flames?
The containment of the Darvaza Gas Crater signals a shift in Turkmenistan’s approach to balancing heritage, environmental responsibility, and resource preservation. While the flames have not been extinguished completely, their dramatic reduction marks a new chapter for the once-endless fire that put this remote part of the Karakum Desert on the global map. For now, the pit continues to smolder faintly, a ghost of its former self, as Turkmenistan looks ahead to a future with fewer flames and fewer emissions.
