Reshared post from Chris Worth
The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas.The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70 metres (230 ft) at 40°15′10″N 58°26′22″E. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. Locals have dubbed the cavern "The Door to Hell".
Full resolution picture here – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darvasa_gas_crater_panorama.jpg
Originally posted on Google+ · April 13, 2013
You can search and find it on this map: http://www.blue-marble.de/nightlights/2012, and compare it with towns and industrial areas.
Thanks for the links +Alexander Vollmer . I can't really make out the crater on the map but ended up wondering what all this light near Shubarshi, Kazakhstan might be…
+Ralph Stoever Just put the position Chris mentioned (40°15′10″N 58°26′22″E) in the search field, GMaps can handle that … in the night view its bright and in the map view it mentions the door to hell.
Why haven't any of the locals built a small electric power plan on the edge?
Why haven't any of the locals built a small electric power plan on the edge?
Thanks again +Alexander Vollmer