Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The Earth is dotted with numerous “gateways to Hell.” In the ...

Rarely does an industrial accident develop into a major tourist attraction. But when a Soviet exploratory team drilled for natural gas in Turkmenistan more than 50 years ago, they are said to have set ...

Deep in the scorching desert of Turkmenistan, the Darvaza gas crater—infamously known as the “Gate to Hell”—has been ablaze for over 50 years. This massive fiery pit, which once roared with a ...

There are no written Soviet records, no logs, no official drilling reports, and no confirmation that they'd lit it intentionally – but there's no disputing a ~100-foot-deep (~30-m), 226-foot-wide ...

The flaming phenomenon in the Central Asian desert is both an industrial accident and a tourist attraction. Is it worth the risk to turn it off? A tour guide sets settles in before the glow of Darvaza ...

We captured some breathtaking 4K drone footage of Turkmenistan’s Darvaza Gas Crater—better known as the "Door to Hell." This ...

Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the University of Southampton, and specializes in animal behavior, evolution, palaeontology, and the environment. Rachael has a degree in Zoology from the ...

The site in Turkmenistan burns through millions of cubic meters of natural gas each year. The exact cause behind the Darvaza Gas Crater—also known as the Shining of Karakum—remains a mystery, but ...