Turkmenistan is seventy percent
desert – the Karakum Desert, to be
exact. The nation is divided into five administrative divisions, the second
largest being the Ahal Welayat which
is located to the south-central portion of the country. Ahal is almost entirely
desert and contains just fourteen percent of the country’s population, but it
is also rich in natural resource deposits. Within this region, you will find an
interesting place called Derweze or Darvaza (A Door).
The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. When
Soviet scientists discovered a cache
of oil reserves near the town of Derweze in the Karakum Desert, drilling
quickly commenced. While drilling in
1971, they selected this location to drill a hole which is filled with natural
gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a
diameter of 70 metres which is
approximately 230 feet. The camp is
filled into a poisonous sinkhole. Amazingly no lives were lost in the disaster,
but large quantities of methane gases
were released into the atmosphere. This created a significant environmental
concern while frightening the health of the Derweze villagers. When methane (a
dangerous greenhouse gas) is burned,
it is a greater contributor to global warming than carbon dioxide. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, the geologists
determined the best course of action was to set the crater on fire. Burning off
the excess methane over several days would be far cheaper and safer than using
expensive equipment for extraction. But
the gas is still burning today. Unfortunately, initial estimations of the
site’s reserves were extremely low; when the scientists lit the gas, it erupted
and didn’t stop burning. Locals quickly dubbed the site the “Door to Hell” and the Gas Crater of Darvaza.
The unpleasant smell of burning sulphur permeates the area for hundreds
of yards in every direction while its recesses spit boiling mud with orange flames thrashing high from the
molten rock. Over forty years later, the fire still burns. The President of Turkmenistan ordered the
village of Derweze to separate in 2004. Leader Saparmurat Niyazov appealed the village was an unpleasant sight for
tourists to the crater. In April of 2010 Turkmenistan leader Berdimuhamedow visited the Door to Hell
and ordered it to be closed. The exposed burning crater hinders additional
drilling in the area rich in natural resources. With the crater closed,
Turkmenistan could resume drilling and provide more revenue. But by July of
2013 no action has been taken and the Darvaza gas crater fire still burns.
Since the disaster in 1971 there has been
little exploration in the Karakum Desert. Turkmenistan has concentrated its
effort in the Caspian Sea at Dauletabad-Donmez by the Iranian border
and along the Amu-Darya Basin bordering Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan has the
fourth-largest reserve of natural gas in the world, and currently produces 75
billion cubic meters each year
The rulers of that country has announced to
clean up the site for further exploration of natural gases.. But until the
country is given financial assistance or pressured politically, it appears
unlikely the Door will be closed any time soon.