Derweze

Derweze
Derweze Location in Turkmenistan
Coordinates: 40°15′09.48″N 58°26′21.93″E / 40.2526333°N 58.439425°E / 40.2526333; 58.439425Coordinates: 40°15′09.48″N 58°26′21.93″E / 40.2526333°N 58.439425°E / 40.2526333; 58.439425
Country	Turkmenistan
Province	Ahal Province
Population (1989 census)
- Total	1,683

Derweze (Turkmen language: The Gate, also known as Darvaza) is a Turkmenistan village of about 350 inhabitants, located in the middle of the Karakum desert, about 260 km north from Ashgabat.

Darvaza inhabitants are mostly Turkmen of the Teke tribe, preserving a half-nomadic lifestyle.

"Door to Hell" gas deposit

The deposit as seen at night, 2010.

The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas.^[1] The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of about 70 metres (230 ft) at 40°15′10″N 58°26′22″E / 40.25264°N 58.43941°E / 40.25264; 58.43941 (The Gates of Hell). To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn it off.^[2] Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas still burns 40 years later. Locals have dubbed the cavern "The Door to Hell".^[3]

Next to capturing the gas, flaring is safer and friendlier to the environment than releasing the methane into the atmosphere, as methane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas and considered to have a high global warming potential of 72 (averaged over 20 years) or 25 (averaged over 100 years).^[4]

Turkmenistan plans to increase its production of natural gas. In April 2010, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow visited the site and ordered that the hole should be closed, or other measures be taken to limit its influence on the development of other natural gas fields in the area.^[5]

See also

• Mine fire
• List of cities, towns and villages in Turkmenistan
• Gates of hell
• Energy policy of the Soviet Union

References

1. ^ http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/25/turkmenistans-door-to-hell/
2. ^ http://englishrussia.com/?p=1830
3. ^ http://yourenotfromaroundhere.com/blog/2006/09/29/hell-is-great-hell-turkmenistan/
4. ^ IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
5. ^ http://jp.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idJPJAPAN-14926420100421

External links

• Photo Gallery, info's, related places in the World, maps how to get to'Door of Hell"
• Photos from the Darvaza Gas Crater or "Gates of Hell"
• Tourist information for Darvaza
• * Flaming Crater, Darvaza Turkmenistan 1/6 - Phillips Connor on YouTube
• Pictures and YouTube link
• Au bord du cratère de Darvaza
• Interactive forum about the Darwaza Well