What is the Door to Hell?

At 230 metres in diameter and 100 feet deep, it’s fair to describe the Darvaza Gas crater in Turkmenistan as colossal. This geological marvel is nicknamed the Door to Hell, and it's not the dimensions alone that make it unique. The crater has been spurting flames for half a century now, burning continuously ever since its formation in 1971.

It’s actually become the Central Asian country’s biggest tourist attraction by far, drawing in 10,000 visitors each year. But as you might expect, a burning gas crater does come with its fair share of safety hazards. Air around the edge of the crater is thick and hot, and it emits burning gusts of wind.

How natural is the Door to Hell then? Why’s that? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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