Strange Universe: The Darvaza Crater

Soviet gas prospecting in the 1950s ignited the massive hellfire now known as Turkmenistan's "Gas Crater" in the village of Darvaza. Gas deposits were reportedly blown by careless officials, and the incident largely little known outside of Turkmenistan since then. The immensity and perpetual red hot fires burning within it are truly incredible. Throw in shadowy legends about human cremation taking place within the great pit, and you have the ample start of yet another curious mystery in this strange universe.

This short Youtube video pans across the scene, revealing the size and scope of the geological torch. Portal to hell? Perhaps not, but one could do a lot worse than Darvaza's crater in finding a fair approximation.

-Grim Blogger