IFL Science
By Dr. Russell Moul
May 5, 2026
The decades-old flames at Turkmenistan’s so-called “Gates of Hell” are finally starting to dim. But while officials and environmentalists have long wanted its flames to be extinguished, this latest news may not be as good as we might like.
The Darvaza gas crater, as the site is officially known, is a massive pit located in the Karakum Desert, now (in)famous for its ceaseless flames that have been burning since the 1970s. However, there are several unverified stories concerning its origins; the most commonly accepted account suggests that in 1971, the Soviets accidentally drilled into an enormous pocket of natural gas while searching for oil.
Super Sleuth
