Officials say this "gateway to hell" is closing up
Wells have been set up to help reduce fire at the crater.
The world is home to a handful of "gateways to hell" i.e., fiery pits that resemble artistic depictions of the entrance to the underworld.
But it looks like that list is about to get smaller: Officials in Turkmenistan recently announced they have reduced a gas fire at the Darvaza gas crater by about a third.
The crater was accidentally ignited in 1971 when Soviet scientists punctured a natural-gas cavern, causing its roof to collapse. They then ignited the crater to stop the spread of poisonous gas.
It has been pouring methane, which contributes to climate change, since its inception.
The reduction in the fire is part of Turkmenistan's pledge to reduce climate change emissions.
A team of experts have several mitigation strategies in place, including opening old wells and adding new ones to capture methane.
"This has a visible effect," reads a statement on the Government of Turkmenistan's website.
"In 2013 the glow from the Darvaza gas crater was visible for many kilometers, now its burning can only be seen in the immediate vicinity."
A satellite image of the crater, taken in 2020. Korea Aerospace Research/Wikipedia/ Public Domain.
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The crater is a top tourist attraction in the area, receiving about 10,000 visitors a year.
Header image: Tormod Sandtorv/Wikipedia CC BY-SA 2.0.
