Located in Central Asia, the country of Turkmenistan is most known for the Darvaza gas crater(Also known as the Gates of Hell or Door to Hell), which was created by a mining disaster. But its most interesting spot may soon be a relic of the past. CNN reports that President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has ordered the closure of the Gates of Hell. The President cited several reasons for the closure: “negative effects on the health of people living nearby; wasting of valuable natural gas resources; and environmental damage.” Scientists and foreign experts will likely be consulted for advice on how to extinguish the fire. No deadline has been set for its demise.
The man-made catastrophe happened by accident. During a Soviet-led mining expedition in the early 1970s, the ground collapsed, which has led to a never-ending fire over the last fifty years. While it’s a popular tourist attraction, the country only attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year. The country is unfortunately a totalitarian regime that draws similarities to North Korea, so it may be best to visit this site on Youtube instead.
