The closest thing to hell on Earth lies in Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert. There, a fire pit known as the Darvaza Crater earned the name “Gates of Hell”—or “Door to Hell”—because it ...

Known as the ‘Door to Hell,’ this fiery crater is located in Turkmenistan, a country in Central Asia. It was never meant to exist, but due to a Soviet drilling accident in 1971, what was once ...

It has become a popular tourist spot in Turkmenistan. The crater, known informally to people and tourists as the "Door to Hell," has officially been dubbed the "Shining of Karakum" since 2018.