The Darvaza gas crater has been burning for 55 years is True.
door to hell gas crater viral image
However it would look very different from the famous photos circulating online.
The crater was created in 1971 when Soviet engineers accidentally collapsed a natural gas cavern while drilling.
To prevent the spread of poisonous methane, they lit it on fire, expecting it to burn out in a few weeks. It has been burning ever since.
Since 2022, the Turkmen government has made serious efforts to put out the fire to save valuable gas and protect the environment.
By drilling secondary wells nearby to “siphon” the methane away, engineers have cut the fire’s intensity by more than 60%.
While it still smolders and is officially known as the “Shining of Karakum,” the massive “inferno” look from the older photos is fading.
