The Darvaza gas crater (Turkmen: Garagum ýalkymy, Гарагум ялкымы), also known as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell, is a natural gas field collapsed into an underground cavern located in Derweze, Turkmenistan. Geologists intentionally set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas, and it is thought to have been burning continuously since 1971. The gas crater has a total area of 5,350 m2. Its diameter is 69 m (226 ft), and its depth is 30 m (98 ft).
The Turkmen government hopes that the crater will become a popular tourist attraction.[6] The surrounding area is also popular for wild desert camping.
