Do you ever wonder about random things? For instance, the Gates of Hell? I did and I found a really cool article on the topic.

Why was I wondering about the Gates of Hell? I admit, it’s a strange thing to be contemplating. There was no big religious or existential reason for it. The reason is kind of silly, really. I’m just a HUGE Tom Petty fan.

In fact, if you ever see me out, you may notice that I may or may not (but definitely do) have a totally rad vintage ’80s mirrored Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keychain attached to my keys. My husband found it for me at a garage sale a few years back. In its day, this keychain was probably a treasured prize straight out of a carnival midway. The proud owner likely agonized over whether to choose this keychain or the feathered roach clip after they skillfully broke three balloons at the dart game. Thankfully, they chose wisely and now I benefit from that decision. And, yes, I am aware that most grown women do not carry ’80s mirrored Tom Petty key rings. But, as you may be aware, I am not like most grown women.

Getting back to the Gates of Hell, here’s why I looked it up and what I found when I did. The song  “I Won’t Back Down“ was running through my head one day after series of frustrating political discussions. So, out of curiosity, I googled the “Gates of Hell”. To my surprise, I found an article on Atlas Obscura about the Gates of Hell – a place that exists right here on earth. It is a fiery pit that has been burning since 1971.

As I flipped through the images of this place, for some reason one of the images reminded me of the image below of the littles (my kids) standing at the water’s edge ready to take on the world. So, in my head, I combined all three – the place, the song, and my kids – in one image.


Admittedly, I may have had too much time on my hands that day or I may have just been procrastinating on a pressing project. In any case, I learned something new that day, and now I’m going to share it with you.

The image below is the original photo of “the Gates of Hell” in Turkmenistan. If you’re as geeked out as I was about seeing this awesome place called the Gates of Hell (right here on earth), here’s some more info on it.

Tormod Sandtorv/Wikimedia [public domain]

According to Atlas Obscura, this fiery crater has been burning since 1971 (Not too long after I was born – completely coincidental, I’m sure.) …

“In the hot, expansive Karakum desert in Turkmenistan, near the 350-person village of Derweze, is a hole 230 feet wide that has been on fire for over 40 years.
Locals know the crater as “The Gates of Hell.” Its glow can be seen for miles around.
The Gates of Hell were created in 1971 when a Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a massive underground natural gas cavern, causing the ground to collapse and the entire drilling rig to fall in. Having punctured a pocket of gas, poisonous fumes began leaking at an alarming rate. To head off a potential environmental catastrophe, the Soviets set the hole alight. The crater hasn’t stopped burning since.
The Soviet drilling rig is believed to still be down there somewhere, on the other side of the “Gates of Hell.”

For the original article and more images of the Gates of Hell, visit Atlas Obscura.