This clause first appeared in Issue 8 of our costless digital magazineCURIOUS .

In 1971 , the Soviets were searching for oil fields in the heart of Turkmenistan ’s Karakum Desert , which was part of the Soviet Union at the time . After thinking they ’d strike liquid gold , they mounted a rigging station include a sizable and heavy drill . Unfortunately , all was not as it seemed .

The tale blend in that once boring began ,   it became quickly apparent that they had misjudge the nature of the beast . Instead of drilling into oil , they had set up a goodly operation above an enormous pocket of rude natural gas . The rig before long break down , creating an enormous pickle now known as the Darvaza volcanic crater .

Darvaza was 70.1 meters ( 230 feet ) across and 20.1 meter ( 66 foot ) deep , and its collapse lead to a domino gist that view volcanic crater collapsing across the landscape painting . With each raw crater came more natural gas ,   mostly made up of methane . This presented a large problem as methane has an unfortunate habit of soaking up all the available oxygen in the air .

Those involve in the mix - up were worried about how the gas might involve neighboring wildlife and communities , so a quick fix was settled . As humans have so often done when faced with a problem , they tried setting it on blast . The idea was that ,   in doing so , the flaming would burn off the throttle in a matter of weeks .   Fifty   years on , however , those firing are still burning .

The flames have n’t stopped since they were lit half a century ago , and scientists still are n’t sure how long they will continue to burn . Popularly known as the “ Gates of Hell ” ,   the Darvaza crater and its flaming neighbors draw in tourists and   IE like moths to a literal flaming .

In 2013 , explorer and violent storm chaser George Kourounis really climbed inside the fiery crater as part of a National Geographic - funded hostile expedition to go in hunting of soil samples , testing if life could be found in such rough conditions . It ’s deserving noting that his journeying into the Gates Of Hell include wearing a heating system - resistant suit , so we ’d recommend savour in the high temperature from a well-heeled length .

CURIOUSis a digital cartridge clip from IFLScience feature interviews , expert , abstruse dives , fun facts , news , playscript excerpts , and much more . Issue 12 April 2025 is OUT NOW .