Wordy Wednesday: "Door to Hell"

The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. While drilling geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of about 230 ft. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists had hoped the fire would go out in a few days.

That was 40 years ago.


Locals have named the cavern "The Door to Hell".