The Door to Hell: an Everlasting Burning Crater
Over 160 miles away from the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, lies an incredible and unique place. The Darvaza Crater, also known as the “Door to Hell” or the Crater of Fire, is an underground cavern. It has been burning continuously for over 40 years and has become a surprisingly beautiful tourist attraction.
A team of Soviet engineers discovered the place back in 1971, as they were looking for oil. However, as they reached the site, they found out, that it was filled with gas. In order to prevent any unfortunate events from happening, they deliberately collapsed the ground. The result was a 200 feet wide crater with the diameter of 230 feet.
It didn’t take long, until researchers found out about the risk of crater’s poisonous gases, that could cause great damage to the nearby cities. Therefore, they set the whole place on fire to eliminate substances such as methane. The team was convinced, that the fire would end in a couple of weeks but, surprisingly, the crater has been burning for over 4 decades.
Every year, the location attracts thousands of curious tourists, from all over the globe. The crater filled with flames and burning mud, offers tourists an alluring view of “the Door to Hell.”
Submitted by Hamid Bagha. Thank you
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Darvaza Gas Crater, Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
- Coordinates
- 40.25258, 58.43933
- Access
- This is a remote desert destination, not a developed public attraction. Arrange access through an authorized local tour operator; the approach from Ashgabat includes rough desert tracks and soft sand, commonly requiring 4WD. Confirm current permits and the legally required tourist visa arrangement with your sponsoring tour agency before travel. The crater rim is unstable and largely unguarded—stay with the guide and well back from the edge. Recent reporting says the fire has weakened; confirm current conditions before making a long journey.
- Admission
- No verified standalone public entrance fee was found. Guided transport, permits and any camping are arranged by tour operators and prices vary; request a written quote that lists all charges before booking.
- Time needed
- A local tour operator estimates about 2–3 hours at the crater and roughly four hours to drive each way from Ashgabat; this is a planning estimate, not an official visit duration. Many itineraries include an overnight desert camp.
- Best season
- No official best season is published. A local tour operator recommends spring and autumn for more comfortable desert temperatures; ask about current road access and trip availability before selecting dates.
- Opening hours
- No official public opening hours or independent walk-in access are published. Visits are normally scheduled through a tour operator, often around sunset or overnight; confirm the itinerary and current crater condition before departure.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-25
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-29
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