Adventurer George Kourounis recounts nerve-wracking descent into Turkmenistan’s eternal flames

Explorer and adventurer George Kourounis, known for his daring escapades, recently made headlines as the first person to descend into the burning “Door to Hell” in Turkmenistan. The 30-meter deep pit of fire, formed when a Soviet oil rig collapsed into a natural gas field in 1971, has been ablaze for over five decades. Kourounis shared his experience and the astonishing sights he encountered at the bottom of the fiery crater.

The “Door to Hell” originated when a Soviet oil rig incidentally created the crater, leading authorities to set it on fire, resulting in a perpetual blaze fueled by escaping natural gas.

After years of attempting to gain access to Turkmenistan, Kourounis finally descended into the fiery pit equipped with a heat-resistant suit. His exploration aimed to unveil the mysteries of the flaming chasm.

Kourounis described the scene at the bottom of the crater as having a tremendous amount of flame, with a constant roar and unbearable heat when downwind. Thousands of small flames surrounded the edges, leading towards the center, where two large flames likely indicated the original drilling rig hole for natural gas extraction.

Despite thorough preparation, Kourounis admitted the experience was intimidating, standing on the edge of the gigantic crater filled with fire. The perpetual flames created an orange hue, and Kourounis humorously likened himself to feeling “a bit like a baked potato” in his heat-resistant suit that resembled aluminum foil.

The “Door to Hell” remains a unique and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, drawing adventurers like Kourounis to explore its fiery depths.