Facts Behind The Order Of The President Of Turkmenistan To Close The 'Hell Gate': Gather Scientists, Changed Names And Failed To Extinguish

Darvaza Crater aka 'Gate of Hell' in Turkmenistan. (Wikimedia Commons/flydime)

JAKARTA - Who would have thought, behind his international fame as one of the characteristics and tourist destinations, 'Hell Gate' seized the concerns of the President of Turkmenistan.

Departing from a number of considerations, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov recently expressed his desire to close the site, which is officially named Darvaza Crater.

Citing CNN on January 10, this crater was formed in the early 1970s, when the ground collapsed during a Soviet gas drilling expedition. Scientists reportedly started a large pit fire to prevent the spread of natural gas, and it has continued to burn ever since.

Although the crater has become a tourist attraction, President Berdymukhamedov has reportedly asked his cabinet to find a way to seal off the site, according to Turkmenistan's Neytralny newspaper.

There are several reasons given for putting out the well-known fire: the negative effect on the health of the people living in the vicinity; wasting precious natural gas resources; and environmental damage.

According to the newspaper, the deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan "was instructed to gather scientists, and if necessary, to attract foreign consultants to find solutions to extinguish the fires.

"We lost a valuable natural resource, from which we could gain a significant advantage, using it to improve the welfare of our people," said President Berdymukhamedov, citing AFP's LiveScience.

Darvaza Crater aka 'Gate of Hell' in Turkmenistan. (Wikimedia Commons/Tormod Sandtorv)

The far-less-apocalyptic Darvaza gas crater, its gateway is a large hole in the desert measuring about 230 feet (70 meters) wide and at least 65 feet (20 meters) deep.

The excavation of the hole began in 1971 during a Soviet drilling operation to extract gas. The disaster occurred when the ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, and the rig fell into a natural gas cave.

When dangerous methane gas leaked into the air, geologists decided to burn the crater, estimating that the gas inside would only burn for a few weeks.

Fifty years later, Hell's Gate is still lit, even becoming one of Turkmenistan's top tourist destinations. The crater is becoming increasingly known online after President Berdymukhamedov released a video of himself driving a car through the desert near the hole.

For information, citing DW, President Berdymukhamedov previously ordered experts to extinguish the Gates of Hell in 2010, although the attempt was unsuccessful. In 2018, the president ordered the site to be renamed 'Shining of Karakum.'

President Berdymukhamedov himself has led Turkmenistan since 2006. He is known for his love of gold and marble architecture. One of the most famous is the giant golden statue of the Turkmen sheepdog, President Berdymukhamedov's favorite breed and one of the country's official symbols.