Derweze is a village in Turkmenistan located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, about 260 km north from Ashgabat.
The Darvaza gas crater known also as the "Door to Hell" or ''Gates of Hell", is a natural gas field collapsed into an underground cavern located in Derweze, Turkmenistan. Geologists intentionally set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas, and it is thought to have been burning continuously since 1971. The diameter of the crater is 69 metres (226 ft), and its depth is 30 metres (98 ft).
The crater is a popular tourist attraction. The gas crater has a total area of 5,350 m2. The surrounding area is also popular for wild desert camping.
