The Karakum Desert may not be top of everyone's list of ideal holiday destinations, but it does boast one of the world's unique attractions, the so-called Door to Hell in Turkmenistan, a giant crater which has been burning for forty years, some 260 kilometres north of the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat. The flaming crater is often erroneously described as being in neighbouring Uzbekistan.
The Darvaza Natural Gas Crater
Turkmenistan is rich in natural resources and has some of the largest gas reserves in the world, much of them in the Karakum Desert. The history of this flaming crater at Darvaza (or Derweze in Turkmen, literally meaning 'The Gate') began in 1971, when geologists drilling for gas came across a giant cavern. The earth beneath the rig collapsed, leaving a giant crater about seventy metres in diameter.
Rather than releasing poisonous gases into the atmosphere, it was decided to burn off the gas, the hope being that this would be achieved in a few days. Forty years later and the Darvaza natural gas crater is burning as brightly as ever.
If you are too lazy to trek to Turkmenistan to see this natural phenomenon, this video brings the Door to Hell to you.
Living Right Next Door to the Door to Hell
Far from being in total isolation, there is a human settlement nearby, in the form of the nomad village of Derweze, populated by 350 semi-nomadic members of the Teke tribe. They are best known for their horses, and the Akhal-Teke breed is one of the oldest and hardiest in the world, and can be found as far away as Europe, Australia and North America.
The Karakum Desert
The Karakum Desert encompasses about 70% of modern-day Turkmenistan. It lies east of the Caspian Sea and south of the Aral Sea and is sparsely inhabited, given the lack of rainfall, with an average population density of one person every 2.5 square miles. Communities do exist in the oasis towns, with Mary and Tejen both noted for their cotton growing. The natural mineral resources of oil and gas, however, are attracting the most interest to the region.
Turkmenistan Gas
Turkmenistan has some of the largest proven gas reserves in the world and, given its geographical location, the distribution of its gas has been highly politicised. As part of the former Soviet Union, Turkmen gas was transported through the Soviet network and Russia continues to be a major energy trading partner and transit route. However, with the opening of a second gas pipeline to neighbouring Iran in early 2010, Russia's historical dominance of Turkmen energy resources is being threatened.
With Turkmen gas supplies seemingly inexhaustible, the future of the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan is bright, especially as night.
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If you plan to visit, you will need to know about Turkmenistan Visa Requirements.
Paul Bradbury - Author of Hvar: An Insider's Guide to Croatia's Premier Island, and Lebanese Nuns Don't Ski
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