The Gate To Hell In Turkmenistan

Deep within the Karakum Desert lies a massive, perpetually burning crater that has been blazing for over fifty years. Known locally as the Door to Hell, this site was accidentally created by geologists during a drilling accident in 1971.

Soviet engineers originally set the gas field on fire hoping it would burn off in a few weeks, but the flames never stopped. The crater is filled with thousands of tiny fires that glow against the desert night. Visitors from across the world travel to this remote location to witness the eerie spectacle. It remains one of the most unusual industrial disasters to ever become a global tourist destination.