In the heart of the sands of Karakum in Turkmenistan, the shy languages of fire lick the walls of the “doors of hell”. After half a century of combustion, the Darvaza crater that rejects methane, the global gas accelerator, must finally be extinguished. “We decided to come here with my husband after seeing impressive photos of Darvaza’s flames on the Internet,” says Irina, a tourist from Achkhabad, capital of this lonely country.
But after five hours by car in a row, he broke the desert to reach the crater halfway between the capital and the third city of Turkish, Dachogouz, the show is quite different. “I am a bit disappointed,” he acknowledges thirty. Faced with her, Flameches replaced the fire in this crater 70 meters in diameter and 20 deep.
A negative impact on the environment
According to rare scientific reports, Darvaza’s participation in the immense rejections of Turkmenistan’s methane remains marginal, but this crater is the symbol of an environmental disaster. If the Turkish authorities contain all the information, the satellites have revealed that Turkmenistan celebrated in 2024 the world record of the number of methane supervisors (or mass leaks), according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Much warming that CO2, methane is responsible for about 30% of global warming since the industrial revolution, according to researchers, while the United States and China remain the largest transmitters in volume. Turkmenistan promises it: these “doors of hell”, renamed in “Glow of Karakoum”, will soon disappear.
In 2022, the almighty leader Gourbeully Berdymoukhamendov had ordered the crater, because these “large amounts of gas had a negative impact on the environment and the health of surrounding populations.” In this country, the economy maintained in the long term for its immense gas reserves, this decision is also budgetary.
“Precious raw materials are lost. Its export could generate significant profits and contribute to the well -being of our population,” said the head of state known for his cult of personality, whose son recently happened as president of the country of Central Asia. In Turkmenistan, one of the most closed countries in the world where the wishes of gourbangouously berdymoukamedov are orders, scientists had to find the parade.
Complex work
“The intensity of the unrelated combustion of the crater was divided by more than three”, welcome in June Turkmegaz, a state company that ensures that “has” managed to control the supply of gas, significantly increasing the extraction of gas and reducing the intensity “of the fire. But the work is complicated by the geological particularity of the desert, said a specialist in Turkmegaz to the AFP, under the cover of the anonymity.
“The deposits [d’hydrocarbures] Karakum is characterized by the presence of a large number of thin layers, interspersed with dense layers that contain water, “summarizes the specialist. Instead of having a large gas pocket that will run out”, the long combustion of the crater is explained by the interaction of these “multiple, details.
However, it is impossible to visit Turkmegaz facilities without multiple authorizations not received by AFP. As for the rare data communicated by the authorities, they are generally not verifiable.
Hard blow for little local tourism
The “Portes de l’Effer” was opened in 1971, when the Soviet geologists studying the rich subsoils of Karakum, a desert as large as Germany, accidentally crossed a gas pocket.
“Geologists have decided to set it on, hoping that it will spread rapidly. But the crater still burns,” continues Anatoly Bouchmakine, for whom this incident “has allowed scientists to evaluate very precisely the gas perspectives in this area.” But Darvaza’s closure can undermine the local tourism embryo.
This country covered by Sands almost does not have tourist attraction and suffers comparison with neighboring countries. And for the handful of foreigners who have managed to obtain a visa to visit this country closed under narrow surveillance, this place is at the top of the list. “It is not a secret to anyone that most foreign tourists come to Turkmenistan to admire this miracle,” said Ovez Moudov, an employee of a local travel agency. “If Darvaza stops burning completely, many travel agencies will lose income.”
Source: BFM TV
