Derweze Crater - The 'Gateway to Hell' in the Karakum Desert

Natural wonders and unique landscapes are considered sure tourist attractions. A particularly remarkable phenomenon burns deep in the Turkmen desert near the village of Derweze.

The 'Gateway to Hell' has, however, a completely unnatural origin - and still draws numerous visitors to the region by the Caspian Sea every year. The Derweze Crater is undoubtedly an unforgettable travel experience.

The isolated country between Kazakhstan, Iran, and Afghanistan is mainly known to the general public as a gas supplier and as the governing location of the despotic President Berdimuhamedow. He ensures through import bans that the population drives exclusively in cars of his favorite color, white, through the desert landscapes.

Similarly bizarre is the story behind the Gateway to Hell, the latest tourist attraction of the country. Since 1971, the flames have been burning uncontrollably, illuminating the night sky over the Karakum Desert.

A miscalculation by scientists led to today's natural spectacle. In the desert, which covers about 80% of the former Soviet state, gas drilling is repeatedly taking place. Experts also conducted exploratory drilling at the site of the current crater in 1971. However, they drilled into a cavity, the thin earth crust could not withstand the pressure and collapsed, bringing the drilling rig down with it.

Fortunately, no one was injured or killed. Nonetheless, a 20-meter-deep and 70-meter-wide crater gaped in the middle of the desert, not far from the Turkmen capital Ashgabat, from which a large amount of environmentally harmful methane was escaping.

To stop the release of the toxic methane gas, the specialists ultimately decided to burn it. According to their calculations, the fire should have gone out after a few days.

Instead, they ignited an eternal fire that has lost none of its strength even after 40 years - and will likely not do so anytime soon. After all, Turkmenistan has vast gas reserves, most of which are well-protected in the sparsely populated Karakum Desert.

The Gateway to Hell will therefore continue to amaze visitors for many years to come.

However, the eerie yet beautiful natural spectacle, which reveals its full magic especially at night, also has its advantages. Currently, the 'Gateway to Hell' is one of the most sought-after tourist attractions in Turkmenistan and is even mentioned in travel guides and the current edition of the bestselling travel book '1,000 Places to See Before You Die'.

For the isolated country, which only sees about 15,000 tourists a year, this is a significant success. And a step toward tourism openness. Despite the dangers of the eternal fire, the crater has not yet been fenced off. Tourists can look directly into the blazing abyss from the edge. A special experience, not just for adrenaline junkies and active vacationers.

But even though igniting the methane gas is more environmentally friendly than its release, there have always been efforts to extinguish the fire. In 2010, President Berdimuhamedow personally ordered the cessation of the flaming crater. To no avail. Good for you. Discover the unknown country by the Caspian Sea and the blazing natural spectacle in the midst of the Turkmen desert while the flames still burn.

The artificially created natural spectacle in the Turkmen desert is an extraordinary and worthwhile destination for anyone who is not into a package holiday. Visit the 'Desert Volcano' and discover other sights of the former Soviet state.