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Darvaza gas crater — "Shining of Karakum"
A gas crater burning in the Karakum since 1971, known worldwide as the "Gates of Hell".
The crater lies near the village of Darvaza in the middle of the Karakum, about 260 km north of Ashgabat; it is 60–70 m across and about 30 m deep.
In 1971 drilling punctured an underground gas cavern whose roof collapsed; some sources say engineers set it alight to stop poisonous gas spreading, and it has burned ever since.
At night hundreds of flames light its floor and rim, and travellers camp in the desert to see the spectacle. Its official name is the Shining of Karakum.
Sources
Updated: October 3, 2026