ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN – The government of Turkmenistan is once again launching a major initiative to extinguish the Darvaza gas crater, a fiery, man-made chasm famously known as the "Gates of Hell," which has been burning continuously in the heart of the Karakum Desert for more than half a century.
According to a report from the state news agency released Wednesday evening, the President of Turkmenistan has issued a formal directive instructing domestic and international experts to present the latest scientific proposals to finally put out the iconic blaze. This move signals a renewed determination to close a chapter on a Soviet-era industrial accident that has since become both an environmental concern and the nation's most famous, albeit bizarre, tourist attraction.
A Soviet Legacy, A Persistent Flame
The "Gates of Hell" originated in 1971 during a Soviet-era gas exploration mission. Geologists, drilling for what they believed was a substantial oil field, accidentally punctured a massive underground natural gas cavern. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, creating a crater approximately 70 meters (230 feet) wide and 30 meters (100 feet) deep.
Faced with a massive and uncontrolled leak of poisonous methane gas, the Soviet scientists made a fateful decision. Fearing the gas could spread to nearby villages and harm local populations, they decided to ignite it, expecting the fire to burn off all the fuel within a few weeks. That calculation was catastrophically wrong. The reserves were far larger than anticipated, and the fire has been burning ever since.
Motivations for Extinguishing the Blaze
Over the years, the crater has transformed into an unlikely tourist destination. However, the Turkmen government's latest push to extinguish it is driven by several pressing concerns:
- Environmental Damage: The crater continuously releases vast quantities of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
- Economic Loss: The fire represents a colossal waste of valuable natural gas resources, which Turkmenistan, a country rich in gas reserves, could otherwise export.
- Health and Safety: There are ongoing concerns about the long-term health effects of the burning gas on the surrounding environment and any nearby populations.
- This is not the first time the country's leadership has called for the fire to be put out. Previous attempts and plans have been discussed over the decades, but the sheer technical difficulty and cost of the operation have so far proven insurmountable.
The Engineering Challenge
Extinguishing a massive, underground gas fire that has been burning for over 50 years is an immense engineering challenge. Experts will need to consider various complex and high-risk methods, such as drilling relief wells to divert the gas flow or using specialized high-pressure water or chemical extinguishers. Any proposed solution will require careful planning to avoid further collapses or uncontrolled explosions.
The President has reportedly set a deadline for the submission of these scientific plans, signaling a serious intent to resolve the long-standing issue. The world will now be watching to see if modern technology and international expertise can finally succeed in closing the "Gates of Hell."
