Turkmenistan: Famous “Gates of Hell” Close – Soviet Geologists’ Error Opening Them (pics)

The famous “Gates of Hell” in Turkmenistan are closing.

It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country and the decision for immediate closure comes after a relevant order of the President of the country.

It is a huge gas crater in the desert crater that has been burning non-stop for decades in the desert of Turkmenistan.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said he had decided to extinguish them for environmental and health reasons, as well as as part of efforts to increase gas exports.

“We are losing valuable natural resources for which we could make significant profits and use them to improve the well-being of our people,” Berdymukhamedov told the country’s media, urging officials to “find a way to put out the fire.”

According to Turkmen geologists, the huge crater formed in the 1960s but the fire broke out in the 1980s.

It is noted that in the past many attempts were made to seal them.

For example, in 2010, when Berdymukhamedov had again ordered experts to find a way to put out the flames.

When did they open?

The famous “gates” opened in 1971 when a team of Soviet geologists were conducting research and found an underground cave full of gas.

When the experts started drilling in the area, the ground collapsed, which in turn resulted in the opening of a huge hole, which released gas.

The geologists feared for the safety of the locals and so decided to set fire to the well, believing that the flames would go out on their own immediately, which of course turned out to be a big mistake since the fire eventually not only did not go out but remains active for decades, reaching “half a century of life”.

SOURCE: CNN-DW

PHOTO SOURCE: AP

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