Forty years ago, a vast molten cavity known as the Darvaza crater – nicknamed the "door to hell" – opened up in the desert of north Turkmenistan, and has been burning ever since. Now, Canadian explorer George Kourounis has become the first to make the descent into the fiery pit to look for signs of life

The origin of Turkmenistan's Darvaza Crater – nicknamed the "door to hell" – is disputed, but the theory most widely accepted involves a Soviet expedition to explore for gas.

A Turkmen geologist claims the borehole was set alight in 1971 after fears it was emitting poisonous gases. It has now been burning for 40 years.

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/-sp-door-to-hell-turkmenistan-in-pictures

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in my opinion, it looks like a perfect place for public executions

that's freaky. cool freaky but kind of scary, all that fire being so close to the surface and all. i love watching documentaires about places like that, but inwardly i'm also wondering at the intrepid explorers who actually go nearer things like that. i'd run away

JoeTyler said:

Forty years ago, a vast molten cavity known as the Darvaza crater – nicknamed the "door to hell" – opened up in the desert of north Turkmenistan, and has been burning ever since. Now, Canadian explorer George Kourounis has become the first to make the descent into the fiery pit to look for signs of life

The origin of Turkmenistan's Darvaza Crater – nicknamed the "door to hell" – is disputed, but the theory most widely accepted involves a Soviet expedition to explore for gas.

A Turkmen geologist claims the borehole was set alight in 1971 after fears it was emitting poisonous gases. It has now been burning for 40 years.

I don't think they'll find any...animals, that is... in my opinion, of course.