“ You ’re only human ” is a musical phrase used to apologize all manner of sin . But some human erroneousness carry greater , longer - last consequences than others . In the 70s , one such miscalculation tested the weight - bearing capability of an “ oil mine ” , which later turned out to be a large pocket of natural gas . Having put an immense semi on top of this air pocket , the locomotive engineer fly the coop as a huge crater fill with born accelerator take shape . frightening of how the gas might strike neighboring wildlife and community of interests , a quick fix was settled on . This was to light a fervency that would cauterise off the gas in a matter of weeks . 50 years on , however , those fires are still burning .
Our story begin in the heart of Turkmenistan ’s Karakum Desert , which was part of the Soviet Union back in 1971 . The Soviets were in pursuit of oil force field and having observe what they believed to be a bountiful source in the desert , they mounted a rigging station include a goodly and arduous drill . Once oil production begin , it became apace apparent that they had misjudged the nature of the beast . Instead of drilling into crude oil , they had place up a hefty mathematical operation above an tremendous pocket of natural gas . The trucking rig soon crumble , creating an tremendous hole which is now know as theDarvaza volcanic crater .
Darvaza was 70.1 meter ( 230 feet ) across and 20.1 time ( 66 feet ) thick , and its flop led to a Antoine Domino effect that saw craters collapsing across the landscape . With each new crater came more natural gaseous state which was mostly made up of methane . This presented a big problem , as methane has an unfortunate habit of soaking up all the available atomic number 8 in the air . dread for the lives of local community and wildlife , the scientists did what so many have done when faced with a trouble andtried setting it on ardor .
There was a method to the madness , as it was bear that burn off the instinctive gas would take just a few weeks , and then the air quality of the Karakum Desert would stay on as normal . Herein lay the next folly , as it was revealed that this was a gross misestimation , and the flames continue to this day . The flames have n’t stop burning since they first were lit half a century ago , and scientist still are n’t sure how long they will continue to incinerate . Popularly known as the “ Gates of Hell , ” the Darvaza crater and its flaming neighbors attract hundreds of tourer like moth to a real flame .
[ H / T : My Modern Met ]
