Darvaza crater fires diminish by more than 75% in three years
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 4
Darvaza crater fires diminish by more than 75% in three years
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 4
Infrared imaging this year found the soccer-field-sized gas crater in Turkmenistan, known as the Gates to Hell, is burning far less intensely.
The site has burned for decades and drawn adventurous tourists, while Turkmenistan's government has long said it wants the flames extinguished over environmental and health concerns.
The decline may not be wholly positive, however, because the crater remains a scientific puzzle and a symbol of the isolated Central Asian state's unusual global image.
Could extinguishing Turkmenistan's famous crater trigger a much bigger disaster than the fire itself?
Why is the dimming fire at the 'Gates to Hell' a greater climate threat than when it was burning brightly?
With new global penalties looming, will Turkmenistan's top tourist site become a multi-million dollar liability?