January 10, 2022

Is Turkmenistan's 'Gates of Hell' about to be extinguished?

A sinkhole in the Central Asian nation that's been burning in perpetuity since the 1970's might finally be extinguished - if the country's eccentric, bicycle-loving autocrat can find a way to do so.

Photo via @MetroUK

Is Turkmenistan's 'Gates of Hell' about to be extinguished?

Metro

@MetroUK

Jan 10

Turkmenistan's perpetually burning sinkhole, 'The Gates of Hell', may at last be snuffed out after the country's autocrat ordered scientists to find a way to extinguish it.

metro.co.uk

Gates of Hell will finally be closed as fiery sinkhole is set to be plugged

The president of Turkmenistan has ordered the fiery chasm to be extinguished once and for all.

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The fiery hole - which has been burning since the 1970s - stretches 230-feet wide and is located in the Karakum Desert, about 150 miles north of the country’s capital, Ashgabat.

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No one really knows how it was created exactly, but a popular theory goes that the chasm was ignited by Soviet scientists back in 1971 ☭🔥

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The rumour goes that the Soviets came across the area while they were searching for natural gas deposits in the desert. During a search of the area, the upper layers of soil collapsed inwards – creating a 70-foot deep crater filled with dangerous gas 😷

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Thinking that the best way to get rid of the gas was to ignite it, the Soviets did just that – reckoning it’d burn itself out in a couple of weeks. 51 years later, it’s still going strong. In fact, the crater is permanently on fire and can be seen for miles around.

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But its end may now be in sight ❌🔥 Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the president of the reclusive nation, has ordered his scientists to find a way to close up the hole for good.

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Besides incessant burning, the Gates of Hell has been spewing out methane and other noxious gases for decades and the health of locals has become a concern - so it does pose something of a problem for the country.

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It’s not the first time they’ve tried however. In 2010, Mr Berdymukhamedov ordered experts to put it out, but the ‘Mouth of Hell’ could not be made to stop burning.

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Three years later, the Turkmen leader declared the area surrounding the fiery crater a natural reserve, turning it into a tourist trap. Thousands of people journey to visit it every year.

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Now, Mr Berdymukhamedov has had enough again and wants it gone - but it’s unclear how, exactly, his scientists will achieve it 🤔

metro.co.uk

Gates of Hell will finally be closed as fiery sinkhole is set to be plugged

The president of Turkmenistan has ordered the fiery chasm to be extinguished once and for all.

118

384

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Is Turkmenistan's 'Gates of Hell' about to be extinguished?

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