Derweze, A Door to Hell in Turkmenistan

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.

Trans Global Highway - Connecting more than 100 countries

Linking Five Continents and More Than 100 Nations, The Trans Global Highway would physically link by highways and by rail transport, all continents and major population centres, with the present exception of Australia, which, in the future, may be linked via very long suspended, pre-formed, suspended underwater tunnels from extending from the Philippine island chain.

Trans Global Highway Connecting more than 100 nations

The advantages of the Trans World Highway are huge. Firstly, allowing rapid transport of raw materials and finished goods from near and far. In addition to this it will pave a way for establishing electric power cables as well as communication cables. It is also helpful for laying gas, oil and water pipelines. Let’s say if the Arab countries have full scarcity of water we can pump the fresh water from Europe. The Trans Global Highway with water pipelines from areas of abundance to dry areas, could benefit people.

The Trans Global Highway would definitely increase global security through mutually dependent trade and commerce between the connected countries. As with almost all major public works projects, such as the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, the Chunnel, the Alaska Pipeline and others, many people will argue that the tunnels, bridges and roads are not necessary. Some may present counter arguments stating that existing air and sea transport is just fine. Further, the cost may at first, may seem astronomical, but in retrospect, every one of these visionary projects has greatly helped mankind in commerce and progress. Ultimately, the Trans Global Highway will be constructed at least the ground work of planning, today. The primary obstacles are in political terms. Many bordering countries are presently at rivalry situation with one another, and may not allow free moving highway to run through their territories, even though there are vast economic benefits.

Bridge Constructed across Bering Straight

Imagine driving your car from Scandinavia down to Europe, across Germany, France and Spain, then through the Gibraltar tunnel to Africa. After surrounding the continent, you dispense from the Eastern Mediterranean and drive across much of India and China before moving up the Pacific Rim to the Arctic. Proceeding via the Bering tunnel, you join the Pan-American Highway across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America. Driving over the elevated highway which spans the Darien Gap, you arrive in Colombia. Then you visit nations of South America before reaching the southern tip of the continent. Most important, such a global highway will bring the people of the world together as never before, promoting peace and prosperity and enhancing quality of life for billions. Though there is a problem within the countries whether to choose left hand side driving or right hand side driving.

Proposed tunnels on Trans Global Highway

It should be noted that presently, there are many tunnels around the world that are as long as the longest tunnel needed to complete the Trans-Global Highway. The "Chunnel" linking England with Europe is approximately 31.34 miles (50.45km) long, the ocean tunnel Seikan linking Hokkaido with Honshu in Japan is 33.46 miles (55.86km) long, while the new Swiss Gotthard tunnel through the Alps, currently under construction, will be 35.7 miles (59.60km) long. There are in fact, 5 tunnels over 30 miles in length, in existence today.