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Residents of Turkmenistan were banned from visiting the Darvaza gas crater in the Karakum Desert without special permission. This was reported by the correspondents of the Chronicle of Turkmenistan.

This popular tourist site originated in 1971, when Soviet geologists discovered an accumulation of underground gas at this place. The installed oil rig fell into the void, forming a deep crater. To prevent gases harmful to people and livestock from escaping, they decided to set them on fire. Geologists assumed that the fire would go out in a few days, but they were wrong. For 50 years, the gas escaping from the crater has been continuously burning day and night.

Now it is possible to visit Darvaza only in groups with a permit from the State Tourist Corporation “Turkmensyyahat” (“Türkmensyýahat”).