The Door to Hell (in the nighttime) / Turkmenistan, Darvaza
Derweze (Turkmen language: The Gate, also known as Darvaza) is a
Turkmenistan village of about 350 inhabitants, located in the middle
of the Kara-Kum desert, about 260 km north from Ashgabat. Darvaza
inhabitants are mostly Turkmen of the Teke tribe, preserving a
half-nomadic lifestyle.
The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971
geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with
natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a
large hole with a diameter of about 50-100 meters. To avoid poisonous
gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists had hoped
the fire would go out in a few days but it has been burning ever
since. Locals have named the cavern The Door to Hell. Next to
capturing the gas, flaring is safer and friendlier to the environment
than releasing the methane into the atmosphere as methane is a
relatively potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential
of 72 (averaged over 20 years) or 25 (averaged over 100 years).
Turkmenistan plans to increase its production of natural gas. In April
2010, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow visited
the site and ordered that the hole should be closed, or other measures
be taken to limit its influence on the development of other natural
gas fields in the area.
Not far from the burning crater are two other craters of similar
origin. These craters are not burning as the gas pressure is much
weaker. At the bottom of one of these craters is light grey mud while
the last crater contains a turquoise lake. This lake prevents further
attempts at drilling. Not far from the burning crater are several
dormant wells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derweze).
Comments and faves
williamcho added this photo to his favorites. (20 months ago)
williamcho (20 months ago | reply)
469 Photographer - Post 1 Award 5
itai2009 (20 months ago | reply)
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McFly! (20 months ago | reply)
...yeaaahh....
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Gabriel2005 (20 months ago | reply)
This photo is addictive!!
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pachenha (20 months ago | reply)
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Nikos Golfis (20 months ago | reply)
Wonderful image!
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Vince Alongi (20 months ago | reply)
Wow! This is a great photo! I saw it in
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SchutD (20 months ago | reply)
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Undertable (20 months ago | reply)
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schnupus (20 months ago | reply)
Wow, that is great.
Seen in: Only Your Best Shots
EduardoROlivera (20 months ago | reply)
Impressive shot, it does look like the gates of hell.
Regards
andrew nunes (20 months ago | reply)
intense.
individual8, markevnic72, Jesse Stein, and Another side of yukita added this photo to their favorites.
RitaMartinez (18 months ago | reply)
que hermoooso ._.
its like a real hell!!
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hornbost (14 months ago | reply)
Wonderful shot, i really like this kind of pictures!
Congrats my friend!!! :)
Regards from Germany
--Oliver—
roswita2009 (14 months ago | reply)
Traveling the world.
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xxmemorabilia (7 months ago | reply)
wow!!! what a site to see!
it is amazing what nature can come up with
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