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LOCATED IN THE KARA-KUM DESERT OF TURKMENISTAN IS THE VILLAGE OF DARVAZA (DeRWEZE), WHERE IN 1971, A TEAM OF SoVIET PROSPECTORS ALLEGEDLY DRILLED INTO A LARGE CHAMBER FILLED WITH NATURAL GAS. THE ROOF OF THE CAVERN COLLAPSED LEAVING A CRATER-LIKE SINKHOLE SOME 25 METERS DEEP WITH A DIAMETER OF APPROXIMATELY 60 - 70 METERS. To AVOID POISONOUS GAS DISCHARGE, THE DECISION WAS MADĘ TO IGNITE THE EMISSIONS. GEOLOGISTS HAD HOPED THE FIRE BURN ALL THE FUEL IN A MATTER OF DAYS, BUT THE GAS STILL BURNS 40 YEARS LATER. LOCALS HAVE DUBBED THE CAVERN "THE DOOR TO HELL."