Gates of Hell Dim as Methane Hazard Looms If It Goes Cold

Turkmenistan’s Darvaza gas crater, the famed “Gates of Hell,” is reportedly dimming after more than 50 years of continuous flame. While some attribute the drop to new nearby gas wells, others say natural fading is at play and not fully understood. The concern isn’t merely a fading spectacle: if the flames go out, the methane fueling them could escape into the atmosphere, a potent climate threat since methane traps far more heat than CO2. Emissions rose from about 1,300 kg/hour (2022–2025) to nearly 2,000 kg/hour by late 2025, highlighting an uncertain balance between environmental risks and the spectacle’s disappearance.