A closer look
Turkmenistan's Darvaza gas crater, affectionately known as the Gates of Hell, is a massive fiery pit in the desert that has been burning continuously since Soviet engineers accidentally set it on fire in 1971. In a brilliant display of utter incompetence, geologists actively drilling for natural gas caused the ground to collapse, and they intentionally lit the fumes on fire, assuming it would safely burn out in just a few days. Over fifty years later, this apocalyptic blazing sinkhole is now the highly secretive country's biggest tourist attraction, drawing strange travelers who want to take dramatic selfies right next to a giant ecological disaster. It perfectly highlights the absolute absurdity of human error that a massive, embarrassing industrial failure was simply rebranded as a mystical, highly sought-after travel destination. Spending your hard-earned vacation time standing next to a blazing pit of toxic methane gas perfectly summarizes modern off-the-beaten-path tourism!
