Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Gates of Hell


















This is a 328 foot wide hole that has been burning for 38 years.  In the early 1970s, the Soviets were drilling a hole when they (oops) punctured a large natural gas pocket.  The ground collapsed pulling the drilling equipment with it.  Poisonous gases leaked out and to prevent a catastrophe, they set it on fire.

Need to enter the underworld for any reason?  Here you go.  It is located in Turkmenistan.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's wicked cool. How close can the average person get to it? Is it a touristy thing, like the volcanoes in Hawaii?

Mark Alford said...

I'm flattered that you think I know the answers to these questions. :)

I gave you all I know. :(