Darvaza gas crater, Natural gas crater in Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan.
The Darvaza crater spans 70 meters in diameter and reaches 30 meters deep, releasing continuous flames from natural gas deposits beneath the ground.
Soviet geologists created this crater in 1971 when their drilling equipment collapsed into an underground cavern, leading them to ignite the escaping gas.
The crater serves as a central element in Turkmen desert tours, where visitors stay in traditional yurt camps to observe the flames against the night sky.
The site requires advance planning for transportation through unmarked desert roads, with visitors needing to arrange guides and bring essential supplies.
Explorer George Kourounis descended to the crater bottom in 2013, collecting soil samples while surrounded by hundreds of individual gas flames.
Location: Ahal Region
Inception: 1971
Elevation above the sea: 137 m
Width: 70 m
Address: Derweze, Turkmenistan Derweze
GPS coordinates: 40.25263,58.43939
Latest update: July 8, 2025 08:50
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