From English Russia:
The story:
This place in Uzbekistan is called by locals “The Door to Hell”. It is situated near the small town of Darvaz. The story of this place lasts already for 35 years. Once the geologists were drilling for gas. Then suddenly during the drilling they have found an underground cavern, it was so big that all the drilling site with all the equipment and camps got deep deep under the ground. None dared to go down there because the cavern was filled with gas. So they ignited it so that no poisonous gas could come out of the hole, and since then, it’s burning, already for 35 years without any pause.
As the cosmic plumber might say: Global warming? There's your problem, right there.
Amazing!
Posted by: Fabian from Israel | March 25, 2008 at 06:26 PM
According to someone in Google Earth, it is not in Uzbekistan, but on Turkmenistan.
Darvaza Gas Crater
40° 9'51.06"N
58°22'52.85"E
Posted by: Fabian from Israel | March 26, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Nice work. Thanks for that.
Posted by: Mick H | March 26, 2008 at 09:34 AM