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Drone Footage Shows 'Door To Hell' Crater That's Been Burning For 40 Years

Drone Footage Shows 'Door To Hell' Crater That's Been Burning For 40 Years

The gas crater was allegedly discovered by Soviet scientists

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

There are a lot of things that feel a little bit apocalyptic in the world at the moment. There are the freak weather phenomenons and also the fact everyone seems to hate each other, not to mention actual portals of fire in the ground.

This unreal drone footage has been taken of a crater in Turkmenistan - which is affectionately known as the 'Door to Hell'.

Originally found over 40 years ago, the Darvaza Gas Crate is hidden deep in the Karakum Desert. The story goes that it was found by Soviet scientists who were on the hunt for oil. When their rig collapsed they worried that dangerous gases would be released into the atmosphere, so set it alight, thinking it would burn off in a few weeks.

Clearly, that wasn't the case, as it's still going strong, as we can see from these amazing images.

The crater itself is 69 metres-wide, 30 metres-deep and can reach temperatures of over 1,000C in certain spots.

In 2013, world famous explorer George Kourounis decided, for some unknown reason, that it was a good idea to descend into the burning fire pit. He rappelled 100ft down into the crater and walked across its surface, after hearing a rumour that the local government was planning to put the fire out.

He revealed his aim was to collect samples of the surface to be analysed, and after he finished the challenge, it was discovered that bacteria was present there, even though the environment is so hot.

The 'Door to Hell' gas crater.
Google Maps

He said: "Since this was something nobody had ever done before there was a lot of uncertainty and questions. How hot was it at the bottom? Is the air breathable? Will the ropes survive? What if something goes wrong?

"Nobody knew the answers - not even me. When I actually set foot at the bottom it was an overwhelming feeling.

"I was in a spot where no human had ever been. It was like stepping onto an alien planet - more people have been on the moon. It was exciting, adventurous, dangerous, a world first and a contribution to science. The expedition had everything I love."

Kourounis has been to some of the most dangerous sites in the world, including caves, volcanoes and glaciers, all in the name of science and photography.

Featured Image Credit: Google Maps

Topics: Science, World News