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Located in the heart of the Karakoum desert in Turkmenistan, natural curiosity has captured the attention of the whole world for more than half a century: the Darvaza gas crater. Often nicknamed the “Porte de l’Enfer”, this phenomenon is the unexpected result of a Soviet attempt to contain a natural gas pocket. Since then, this fiery crater has become a tourist attraction as much as a source of worrying methanic pollution. Today, efforts are multiplying to put out this eternal blaze, and many questions arise as for the future of this emblematic site.
Origin and history of Darvaza’s crater
Darvaza’s crater appeared in 1971, when Soviet engineers accidentally pierced a natural gas pocket by drilling an exploratory well. To avoid the release of toxic methane, they would have ignited the pocket, thinking that the gas would be consumed in a few days. What was to be a temporary solution has turned into an unquenchable blazeilluminating the karakoum desert of an infernal glow visible for miles around.
This crater, officially named “the shine of karakoum”, measures approximately 69 meters in diameter and 30 meters deep. His temperature has reached up to 1,000 ° C, making him an apocalyptic scene that attracts curious and researchers from around the world. This site is also the main source of methane pollution in Turkmenistana country that holds around 9 % of world natural gas reserves.
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Efforts to turn off the fire
Despite its tourist appeal, Darvaza’s crater represents an environmental challenge. Recently, at a scientific conference in Achgabat, Turkmengaz scientists announced that the fire is finally starting to go out. Previously abandoned wells have been reopened and new boreholes have been made To capture methane before he reaches the crater.
In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program, the Mars (Methane Alert and Response System) project monitors methane emissions in real time thanks to satellite images. These efforts aim to reduce the environmental impact of the crater and more sustainably exploit the gas resources in the region.
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Scientific explorations and discoveries
In 2013, the crater reached its maximum intensity, attracting the attention of the Canadian explorer George Kourounis. Equipped with a heat -resistant combination in Kevlar/Nomex and an autonomous respiratory system, Kourounis became the first man to descend to the bottom of the crater. It has taken soil samples where extreme bacteria were discoveredoffering a fascinating overview of possible living conditions in extreme environments.
Although spectacular, this crater is not the longest “human error” fire. In comparison, underground coal fires like those of Centralia in Pennsylvania and Jharia in India has been burning for decades and could last centuries. Mount Wingen in Australia, a natural coal fire, has been burning for over 6,000 years.
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Environmental and tourist implications
If Darvaza’s crater is an essential tourist attraction, it is also a reminder of human errors and their environmental consequences. Reduction of methane emissions is crucial to fight against climate changeand closing the crater is an important step in this direction.
Turkmenistan, with its large natural gas reserves, could benefit from best practices for managing and operating its resources. While the efforts continue to turn off the “door of hell”, the question remains: how will the lessons learned from Darvazaza influence future energy policies?
Faced with the challenges posed by the Crater of Darvaza, the international community and Turkmenistan have a unique opportunity to learn and adopt more sustainable practices. The question that arises now is how these efforts will influence future energy and environmental strategies of the country and the region as a whole?
This article is based on verified sources and the assistance of editorial technologies.
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