Is Turkmenistan finally closing the 鈥済ates of hell鈥�?
And what鈥檚 it like to go down the massive fiery pit, the Darvaza Crater?
In the middle of the Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, there鈥檚 a massive fiery pit officially called the Darvaza Crater - but also known as the 鈥済ates of hell鈥�. The fire - which is man made - has been burning for over 50 years. But now satellite images suggest that the brightness of the crater has started to dim. Turkmenistan is trying to finally put out the fire.
Alex from the What in the World team tells us all about how the fire started and why it鈥檚 taken so long to put it out. We hear from explorer George Kourounis who is (as far as we know) the only person to go down into the pit.
And 麻豆社 journalist Alistair Coleman gives us some facts about Turkmenistan and its leaders.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Alex Rhodes
Editor: Verity Wilde
Last on
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- Thu 2 Jan 2025 18:50GMT麻豆社 World Service News Internet
- Fri 3 Jan 2025 03:50GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only
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What in the World
Helping you make sense of what鈥檚 happening in your world.
