If the Republic of Turkmenistan draws a blank you’re not alone. Geography of the former Soviet Union and Central Asia lean toward murky guesses at best. If it helps Turkmenistan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, the Caspian Sea to the west. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, named Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic in 1925, Turkmenistan gained independence in 1991 upon dissolution of the Soviet Union. Today, with a population of barely 6 million, Turkmenistan is one of the most sparsely populated places in Asia.
In 1971 Russian geologists thought they’d found a substantial oil field near the village of Derweze, Turkmenistan (commonly know as Darvaza) Engineers quickly moved in, made camp and started drilling to assess oil reserves. What they found was a massive natural gas pocket, the ground collapsed swallowing drill rigs and the work camp. Worried lethal methane gas could poison nearby residents, authorities set the pit ablaze. They thought it would burn itself out in a few weeks. Over 50 years later, fire rages on.
Known today as the gate or portal to Hell, virtually all tourism in Turkmenistan is attributed to viewing the Darvaza Crater. No one knows how long it will burn, but geologists suggest it’s one of the largest natural gas reservoirs in the world.
notestoponder 
Gateway to hell indeed. I wonder what would happen if one of those tourists fell in there? Asphyxiate first, then burn up? Great idea, to set a natural gas bubble on fire! Trust your scientists, they say; trust your authorities, they say. Yeah, right.
Indeed! 🙂
Doesn’t sound like scientists had anything to do with that decision.
Stunning. It jogged my memory of the as-yet-unexplained holes opening up across Siberia, and why they aren’t a bigger story.
http://factsanddetails.com/russia/Education_Health_Transportation_Energy/sub9_6c/entry-5150.html
And John, this is what you’re talking about, I think.
https://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/n0905-7000-underground-gas-bubbles-poised-to-explode-in-arctic/
Oh what the hell, set them all on fire! Burn, baby, burn! We haven’t even begun to see the real effects of climate change – it’s just getting warmed up…
Cool. I’ve heard leaking methane is probably the cause… and if that’s the case then is not good news for our planet.
This also gives the view of the power Russia and China will have in the future
@ JohnZ
Marrow anybody?
The bones of the Earth breaking open, Ark?
It is a Sci Fi novel I recommended for John a year or two ago and it turned out to be one of his favorites.
I won’t drop any spoilers.
He raves about t now and has read almost everything the author wrote.
I’ve ordered the book, thanks Ark.
Well, that was quick!
I should get referral commission from Robert Reed!
*Smile?
I hope you enjoy it as much as John and I.
Is this the book you refer to: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100208.Marrow by Robert Reed? Some really good comments on that book.
That’s the one!
Brilliant novel.
I must have read it a half dozen times.
Ok, now I have to read it too. Off to Amazon….
Got the novel now, in paperback. Since I already have 6 books on the go, 4 on the computer and one on each of my phones, I’m saving this one for later. I need something paper-based to read when I go kayaking. OK, so it’s snowing outside right now, but that too shall pass. The sun will return, Spring will smile, the rivers will swell with melted snows from the mountains and I shall go a-kayaking again to find those warm hollows in the sand bars and watch gulls, herons, eagles and assorted ducks pass overhead. Marrow shall be my first companion…
Since there’s at least 5 cm at my house, there must be 8-10 at yours. It’s hysterical to watch nincompoops spin out on my street! Gotta love a Lower Mainland snow storm. Sigh. 🙂
Spin-outs: a-holes have to be a-holes, it’s their nature, and the “pickup” truck industry is only too glad to furnish them with the toys for noise and pollution.
Re: the snow, hardly anything down yet, maybe a couple of cm. But the night is young and surprises usually happen in the morning. Might have to shovel out the door to the shed to get to the snow blower…
Global News just said 20-25 cm overnight. Tomorrow morning should be a hoot – terrified greenhorns behind the wheel of $75,000 Range Rovers paralyzed with fear, braking hard instead of gearing down, oblivious to taking a run at hills and utterly void of realization their vehicle would soldier on if only they knew how to drive. Sigh.
Fender-benders and another excuse for ICBC to hike up insurance rates.
The Waywards are coming up!!!!!!!!
Sha’ Tara has just ordered the book … don’t spoil it!
Another convert!
As I said, I should get referral commission from Reed.
🙂
I have his email if you want to chat 😉
S’okay … wouldn’t dream of imposing.
You can tell him how much I loved the book if you like?
After I read the book, maybe I’ll suggest something on his blog (web page), huh?
Very interesting
Great post. As the old saying goes, you learn something new every day.
Another related interesting post
https://www.livescience.com/64680-galapagos-magma-plume-mermaids.html?utm_source=oap-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20190205-oap