Darvaza gas crater
Crater Burning natural gas crater known as Door to Hell
A crater in the Karakum Desert set alight after a 1970s drilling collapse, the Darvaza gas crater burns continuously and attracts night-time visitors and expedition tours. People come for camping nearby and the dramatic, high-visibility flame.
The Darvaza gas crater, often called the ‘Door to Hell’, is a large burning natural gas crater in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan. It is a prominent geologic and tourist landmark notable for flames and glowing gas venting within a bowl-shaped pit.
The feature formed after a Soviet-era drilling rig collapsed into an underground natural gas cavern in 1971; engineers set fire to the leaking gas to prevent the spread of methane and the burning has continued intermittently since then. The crater basin measures on the order of tens of metres across and deep, producing a continuous glow visible at night.
The site is remote and typically visited on off-road trips from regional centres; viewing is most striking after dark when the flames and glowing interior are easily seen.
Geographically the crater lies in the Karakum Desert in central Turkmenistan near the small settlement of Darvaza and is accessed by desert tracks from nearby towns.
- Size: The crater's rim measures roughly 60 to 70 metres across and it is commonly described as 20 to 30 metres deep, with visible burning gas flames on its floor.
- Origin and status: Located in the Karakum Desert, it was created during a 1971 drilling collapse and has been burning since that event after being ignited to consume leaking gas.
How to Get to Darvaza gas crater #
The Darvaza gas crater (the “Door to Hell”) is in the Karakum Desert and has no regular public transport. Most visitors go from Ashgabat on organized tours or in private 4x4 vehicles; the journey crosses desert tracks and takes several hours, so tours often travel overnight and provide local guidance. You arrive at the small Darvaza settlement beside the crater - there are no scheduled buses or rail services to the site.
Tips for Visiting Darvaza gas crater #
- Plan to arrive after sunset if you want the classic view of the burning crater - the glow is far more dramatic at night, but temperatures drop quickly so expect a colder, windier visit than daytime.
- Travel with an experienced local driver or organized tour in a 4x4 - the site sits in the Karakum Desert on rough tracks and solo or unwary drives are common sources of problems.
- Stay at a nearby camp or with an operator that offers overnight stays rather than trying to turn around the same night; the crater attractors are remote and some visitors prefer to camp a short distance away rather than a rushed round trip.
Best Time to Visit Darvaza gas crater #
Visit in spring or autumn for milder temperatures and clearer conditions; nighttime visits show the crater's flames best.
Weather & Climate near Darvaza gas crater #
Darvaza gas crater's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -5°C to 38°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -5°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -3°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 17°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is hot with highs of 36°C and lows of 22°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is the hottest month with highs of 38°C and lows of 25°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is hot with highs of 37°C and lows of 23°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 30°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 8°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 1°C. Light rainfall.
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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