The blazing Darvaza Gas Crater in the heart of the Karakum Desert is called the gateway to hell. It is a crater, 69 meters in diameter and 30 meters deep, in which natural gas is constantly burning. And it has been burning for more than 50 years. The exact cause of the crater formation and its combustion is unknown. But the most viable version is that it appeared in the 1960s when oil prospecting was carried out in an area near the village of Darvaza, and the drilling rig was located in the place where an underground gas pocket was formed. It was opened during drilling, the ground, along with all the equipment, fell down, and natural gas started to come out of the cavity actively. The geologists set fire to the sinkhole so as not to endanger the residents of the village. They thought that it would burn out in a few weeks. This has not happened so far, and Turkmenistan has thus gained its most famous and most dangerous landmark. More than 6,000 tourists come every year to see Darvaza Gas Crater. And this is an impressive figure, given that an average of about 8,000 visas per year is issued to visit the country. Of course, all travelers tend to visit the crater after dark, when it looks especially fantastic. But do not go close to the edges of the crater, as they have a loose structure and can crumble underfoot. In addition, the gas does not burn completely, and breathing it in is bad for health. Another danger is wild animals and poisonous insects, which are attracted to the heat.