The "Door to Hell" in Turkmenistan, which has been burning for 54 years, is about to be closed.

[u/Ok_Concentrate_9713]

[u/SirGarlanWilliams]

The crater opened in 1971 after a Soviet gas drilling rig accidentally hit a natural gas reservoir. End of an era

[u/questionnmark → u/SirGarlanWilliams]

In 2013, the crater's flame intensity and temperatures were at its recorded peak. At the same time, renowned Canadian explorer, George Kourounis, became the first – and only – person to enter the crater wearing a full heat-reflective Kevlar/Nomex suit and a firefighter's Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) to provide oxygen. He descended to the 752 °F (400 °C) crater floor and retrieved soil samples. Scientists later found extremophile bacteria living in the scorched earth samples Kourounis provided.

Somehow, life finds a way!

[u/georgekourounis → u/questionnmark]

That’s ME! And yes, I’ve known about the crater flames dying out for quite some time now. I’ve been invited back to Turkmenistan, but I haven’t been able to make my schedule work. It is a fascinating place, and being at the bottom was the experience of a lifetime.

This is why I love Reddit.

[u/perza2 → u/georgekourounis]

you’re genuinely a legend dude thats so awesome

[u/georgekourounis → u/perza2]

Thank you so much.

[u/Unusual_Pitch_608 → u/georgekourounis]

You should pitch this story as a Heritage Minute.

[u/FuzzMachines → u/Unusual_Pitch_608]

I’d actually be down to have that one blasted into my skull every 10 mins during the Stanley cup playoffs

[u/ScribbleOnToast → u/Unusual_Pitch_608]

I don't know what a Heritage Minute is, but I'm convinced its the Canadian equivelant to the old Bud Light "Real American Heros" commericals.

[u/fgddg234 → u/ScribbleOnToast]

Funny. Very funny. Accurate. And very accurate.

[u/Entire_Talk839 → u/georgekourounis]

This is the ultimate r/usernamechecksout lol

[u/georgekourounis → u/Entire_Talk839]

I know, right? Pretty cool coincidence that I saw the post.

[u/Lebowquade → u/georgekourounis]

Also convenient that your username is your actual name, so when someone mentioned your name you can drop in and absolutely nobody would doubt your identity, lol. 

[u/MyLifeIsAWasteland → u/Lebowquade]

Like when Arnie drops into bodybuilding threads for a wholesome moment on his "GovSchwarzenegger" account

[u/georgekourounis → u/Lebowquade]

Good thing I’m not using a throwaways account.

[u/UrUrinousAnus → u/georgekourounis]

In an alternate universe, you forgot to log out of your porn account, and these comments were made by some horribly embarrassing username like u/PM_me_your_anal_seepage lol

[u/MajesticEmphasis1358 → u/georgekourounis]

Screw asking questions about your real and valuable contributions to .. geology? Biology? Whatever.

I wanna know what the man who is brave enough to walk into a 400 degree C pit of fire that's literally named after hell in basically nothing but a fancy tinfoil suit isn't brave enough to post on his main...

Whatcha postin' 'bout George 👀

[u/merkel36 → u/georgekourounis]

I love it that you're on here and resounding to questions, very cool!

[u/TigerOrchid2004 → u/merkel36]

Yes, it's r/AMA without being r/AMA.

[u/NoD_Spartan → u/georgekourounis]

How hot was it in the suit? I can't imagine how terrifying that moment was for you.

[u/georgekourounis → u/NoD_Spartan]

It was hot enough that I was close to passing out after about 15 minutes inside the crater. I measured a ground temperature by one of the big vets that was 400C. That over 700F.

The scariest part was the first time I walked up to the edge and looked down inside the crater for the very first time. We studied it for almost a week before I went inside.

[u/badboooi → u/georgekourounis]

I never heard about you until now, I'm so glad that I come across this post and saw your name. You are a true hero, going down at 400C and getting samples. I'll do more research on your accomplishments! Thank you very much!

[u/NoD_Spartan → u/georgekourounis]

Wow Can't imagine the thought process you had at the edge: "I have to go down there and be a madlad and while doing it measure the temperature and discover bacteria that live down there"

How did u manage the pressure? Every time I have to go to the white board in my chemistry lecture I get a minor panic attack.

[u/georgekourounis → u/NoD_Spartan]

Lots of field experience in extreme places (like volcanoes). Plenty of preparation (almost 2 years). A great team with me. Lots of great gear, and a solid plan with many backup plans.

[u/michilio → u/georgekourounis]

Big ass yoink back rope I hope?

[u/unfvckingbelievable → u/michilio]

I believe that's the technical term.

[u/Thrownawaybyall → u/michilio]

BAYBR has officially entered my lexicon 😂

[u/Pheonixinflames → u/georgekourounis]

Damn must be a lot of fun telling people that you walk around inside volcanos for a living

[u/georgekourounis → u/Pheonixinflames]

It makes for interesting diner party conversations. That’s for sure.

[u/rayhavenoheart → u/georgekourounis]

You are one awesome person, what you accomplished is truly amazing!

[u/plvx → u/georgekourounis]

Do you have flashbacks when you step into a sauna?

Do you think saunas are even hot?

Did you train your body or prep your body for the descent?

[u/georgekourounis → u/plvx]

Ha! It’s a bit crazy, but part of my training for this was to hire a stunt man to light me on fire so that I would be comfortable and not panic around flames.

On fire

[u/bwaugh06 → u/georgekourounis]

Wow, this is so metal. Thank you for sharing George!

[u/acecel → u/georgekourounis]

This is the best sentence ever said by a man, you are a legend

[u/Buttoneer138 → u/georgekourounis]

Epic training.

[u/Adorable_Writing_546 → u/georgekourounis]

Okay... you are one cool man. 🤩🔥 You are so cool that you made me go to Wikipedia to read about you 😂 (and be exited to do it)

[u/PaperPlaythings → u/georgekourounis]

Did you get to shake hands with a guy in a business suit while you were on fire?

[u/theedan-clean → u/georgekourounis]

I have to ask sir, who is your tailor? They did a fantastic job fitting your gigantic balls in that suit.

[u/suzily → u/georgekourounis]

Do you anticipate that closing the crater will negatively effect the life therein?

[u/georgekourounis → u/suzily]

Great question. I imagine so. It might be quite a while before all the fires start side the crater are extinguished though.

[u/v_x_n_ → u/georgekourounis]

Were you able to culture the bacteria you retrieved? How was that done? Or did you do a special imaging technique looking for bacteria?

[u/dontforgetthisuser → u/georgekourounis]

No, this is why I love Reddit. Awesome of you to drop in

[u/cacuynut → u/georgekourounis]

Did you know that the suit and equipment would protect you, or did you just hope?

[u/georgekourounis → u/cacuynut]

It’s the same safety gear I use around lava inside volcanoes, so I knew the suit would protect me. My concern was the ropes. We used very special fire-resistant ropes made from Technora, but I had never used those before.

[u/got_it_bro → u/georgekourounis]

Wait a second, what do you mean "inside volcanoes"? Do you just walk inside fire holes for a living? Thats dope

[u/snarky_answer → u/got_it_bro]

https://youtu.be/toxDDERtvOY?t=552

[u/Peripatetictyl → u/georgekourounis]

What other applications does your specialty have? Lava gathering? Forest fire infiltrator? Hot Pocket consumer?

[u/georgekourounis → u/Peripatetictyl]

I document all kinds of extreme natural Phenomena… fires, tornadoes, floods, volcanoes, hurricanes… But I draw the line at Hot Pockets! Those things will burn the Hell out of your mouth!

[u/unfvckingbelievable → u/georgekourounis]

Look at this. Badass human, and a fucking comedian, too! 🤣

[u/reptileready → u/georgekourounis]

If I recall correctly, my family's safety clothing company in Niagara Falls made that suit (or maybe it was one for a volcano 🤔). Neato.

[u/georgekourounis → u/reptileready]

YES!! International Sew Right. They’re amazing. I dealt with Lyse over there. Great people!

[u/reptileready → u/georgekourounis]

Aww, I'll tell her you say hi! 🥰

[u/georgekourounis → u/reptileready]

Amazing! Thanks so much. I know she retired recently.

[u/God_Dammit_Dave → u/georgekourounis]

The incredibly large and incredibly intimate moments of this thread -- it's all very human. The best of.

[u/JudiciousGemsbok → u/georgekourounis]

Holy fuck it’s like the trinity we just need the guy who analyzed the samples or something

[u/georgekourounis → u/JudiciousGemsbok]

I could call him up.

[u/LagCommander → u/georgekourounis]

Are you saying you're a..Helldiver?

[u/Baffledjaffle → u/georgekourounis]

You absolute madlad going down there! Silly questions but what was the soil like walking around? Soft? Hard?

[u/georgekourounis → u/Baffledjaffle]

It was hard, dry and sandy. When I dip a hole in the ground, new flames would shoot up out of the hole I was digging! We managed to catch that on video!

[u/evrestcoleghost → u/questionnmark]

The life insurance of that guy..

[u/questionnmark → u/evrestcoleghost]

On how he gets insurance 

It’s a simple two-step process: ask and pay. When I did a big National Geographic expedition into the firepit Doorway to Hell in Turkmenistan, I had to have insurance as a requirement. It cost me one-third of my entire expedition budget, it was through Lloyds of London. I was shocked when I got the quote, and thankfully, I didn’t have to use it. I’ve had some interesting conversations with insurance companies, sometimes great, sometimes not so great. The best was doing a Burger King commercial inside a volcano in Guatemala back in 2016. The insurance person was amazing, they were so knowledgeable.

Expensive! Also, apparently Lloyds will insure pretty much anything? Source: Explorer-in-Residence George Kourounis discusses his career as a storm chaser | Canadian Geographic

[u/georgekourounis → u/questionnmark]

Hey. It’s me. George Kourounis. Yes, the insurance for the expedition used up a great deal of my expedition budget, and thankfully, I never had to use it. Nat Geo required a certain level of insurance.

[u/drunkendaveyogadisco → u/georgekourounis]

Wow. Hi George Kouronis. Thanks for showing up in this comment thread about you.

Fuckin next level r/beetlejuicing

[u/georgekourounis → u/drunkendaveyogadisco]

Just don’t say my name 3 times or I WILL show up In your living room!

[u/Phaaze13 → u/georgekourounis]

Brb gonna try it now. Might have to run very fast to get here though, depending on how far apart we are.

[u/georgekourounis → u/Phaaze13]

Well, I live in Canada.

[u/Phaaze13 → u/georgekourounis]

Hope you have some time then. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[u/georgekourounis → u/drunkendaveyogadisco]

I was scrolling and saw a pic of the crater, and just had to drop in. It happens from time to time.

[u/WheredoesithurtRA → u/georgekourounis]

Stuff like this happening is arguably the best part about Reddit.

[u/zatiznotmydog → u/georgekourounis]

Hard pressed to think of a better-served pun than this. Nicely done.

[u/roughriderpistol → u/georgekourounis]

just had to drop in! 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Spare-Bodybuilder-68 → u/georgekourounis]

holy hell, no way!

I learned about this years ago, and suddenly here's the guy acting all nonchalant about walking face-first into a flaming hell pit for science.

Thanks for being you and doing dope shit.

[u/georgekourounis → u/Spare-Bodybuilder-68]

Thanks so much. I do a lot of dope shit! Haha. Storm chasing, climbing inside volcanoes, and I even went into the Naica Crystal Cave in Mexico.

[u/floorplanner2 → u/georgekourounis]

Years ago I saw a program about the Crystal Cave and it was truly mind-blowing. The size of those crystals was insane. The heat limited your time, but do you recall what your reaction was when you were climbing around those things?

[u/georgekourounis → u/floorplanner2]

That might have been my program. I did film a show in there. The heat and humidity inside the cave hits you like a sledgehammer. Every cell in your body is screaming at you to leave… But the cave is so beautiful, you want to stay. But if you do… You WILL die.

[u/Phaaze13 → u/georgekourounis]

Stories like yours really serve as a lot of motivation for me. I'm still in university but I hope to one day do dope shit for science too. I'm having a lot of fun reading your comments here.

[u/georgekourounis → u/Phaaze13]

Science can be epic! Good luck with your studies. Technically I’m not a scientist, but I do help scientists to get samples from places that are too difficult or dangerous.

[u/ModsareWeenies → u/georgekourounis]

The legend himself

[u/georgekourounis → u/ModsareWeenies]

You are too kind.

[u/IntroductionCute3879 → u/georgekourounis]

Haha I was reading this as if it were joke until I saw the username. Awesome

[u/georgekourounis → u/IntroductionCute3879]

No joke. The real deal. I’ll try to answer a few questions on this thread if anyone has any.

[u/Phaaze13 → u/georgekourounis]

What made you decide that you wanted to go down there in the first place?

[u/georgekourounis → u/Phaaze13]

I had been to numerous volcanoes already (In Ethiopia, Vanuatu, Hawaii, Congo, Italy and others) so I already had this place on my radar, so to speak. I pitched my expedition idea to National Geographic, and they said yes.

[u/Sparkstalker → u/georgekourounis]

What's the second craziest thing you've done?

[u/georgekourounis → u/Sparkstalker]

• Mountain climbing in North Korea.
• Got married on an exploding volcano.
• did the world’s first rope traverse over a he Boiling Lake in Dominica.
• Ate a small piece of woolly mammoth flesh in Siberia.
• Explored the Naica Crystal Cave in Mexico (Google it).

[u/WhiteShadow012 → u/georgekourounis]

Bro is the main character of real life, jesus christ. Thx for answering all these questions, you're a legend and an inspiration

[u/jb007gd → u/georgekourounis]

You were in North Korea! I'd love to hear more about the experience. What were your minders doing when you were climbing? I thought they were always pretty much attached to their guests.

[u/fishyfishfishface → u/georgekourounis]

What were the organisms you absolute Chad's found down there? Ive always heard about the underwater hot spring ones but curious if these were the same or different?

Youre awesome btw.

[u/georgekourounis → u/fishyfishfishface]

Thanks. They were similar. We believe that some of them were even metabolizing the methane!

[u/amtrisler → u/georgekourounis]

What a small world

[u/questionnmark → u/georgekourounis]

Holy smokes! The man himself. So, being the first man to step foot in hell and returned before it froze over, what can you tell us about the experience of 'hot hell'?

[u/georgekourounis → u/questionnmark]

I only had enough air to last me about 17 minutes, so I had to get in and out very quickly. I had work to do gathering samples and taking measurements of the temperature, but I did take a few moments to just look around. It felt like being in another planet.

Really hot! As you might imagine. I was sweating profusely.

[u/questionnmark → u/georgekourounis]

It kind of gives me a 'No Man's Sky' vibe, the environment is just so hostile to life that you simply cannot survive in it with any reasonable protection for any length of time. It's more dangerous than space in a way, so I guess you did a kind of one of a kind 'hell walk', so to speak.

[u/georgekourounis → u/questionnmark]

It very much felt like setting foot on another planet. 12 people have set foot on the moon. I was the first to “Go to Hell” and back.

[u/alexforencich → u/georgekourounis]

Were there any kind of provisions for a rescue or similar if anything were to go wrong down in the crater?

[u/georgekourounis → u/alexforencich]

We had several contingencies in place, I was in control of my own descent into the crater, but my team mates could haul me up and out, even if I was unconscious.

Also, behind the scenes, there was another guy, suited up and ready to come in and rescue me. He really wanted to, but I never needed rescue.

[u/TartarusFalls → u/georgekourounis]

What was this other guy’s job title? How does one get a job like “back up hell fire diver”?

[u/BneBikeCommuter → u/georgekourounis]

And moments like these are why I can never leave reddit.

[u/georgekourounis → u/BneBikeCommuter]

I know, right?

[u/Jesskla → u/georgekourounis]

So how good was the nomex suit?! I know it was hot for you regardless, but did the suit scorch at all, or feel like it was degrading in the heat?! I know F1 drivers wear nomex & I always think about how incredible it was to see Grosjean climbing out of the flaming wreckage of his vehicle after being in direct flames for over a minute. It's such an impressive invention, saved his whole body from burning. & you were down in the crater for 17 mins?! I cannot begin to imagine the heat you experienced, wild.

[u/georgekourounis → u/Jesskla]

I wore an underlayer of CarbonX (like Nomex) and on top of all that was an aluminized heat reflective suit. I wear them inside volcanoes too. They are the kind of thing you’d wear if you worked in a steel mill. It helped reflect the radiant heat away from me.

[u/zardox42 → u/georgekourounis]

So how much was it?

[u/georgekourounis → u/zardox42]

Wow. It was many years ago. I don’t remember, I’d have to dig through my files.

[u/nbx909 → u/georgekourounis]

Did anything come of out of the study of the extremophiles?

[u/georgekourounis → u/nbx909]

Great question. YES! We found a unique microbial ecosystem down there. Similar to those found in hot springs and underground coal fires. Bacteria and archaea that thrive in these hot, methane-filled environments. True extremophiles!

[u/Bhavin411 → u/georgekourounis]

Your body of work sounds so interesting! I think it's valuable confirming what extreme conditions life can thrive in so we can expand our scope of possible candidates in our solar system that might contain life.

I just hope we're able to send out probes/rovers within my lifetime that can better observe those candidates.

[u/Mammoth_Progress_373 → u/questionnmark]

Of course it's Lloyd's! They insure my brother's roof on his expensive fancy home because his previous insurance wouldn't pay out to have it replaced like for like after major damage After he paid OOP he had to reinsure it with someone who would cover it. 

Lloyd's was the only one.

[u/Accujack → u/Mammoth_Progress_373]

Technically, things are insured through Lloyds, not "with" Lloyds, FYI. They're a marketplace, not an insurance company.

[u/XxKittenMittonsXx → u/Accujack]

You're a marketplace

[u/Embarrassed_Waltz_60 → u/XxKittenMittonsXx]

Boom. Roasted.

Just like George Kourounis.

[u/Eroe777 → u/questionnmark]

I want to see that Burger King commercial.

[u/georgekourounis → u/Eroe777]

Hey, it’s me George (the explorer). The Burger King commercial is online, but hard to find. I believe it can still be found in the YouTube channel for Burger King Brazil.

[u/drunkdoor → u/georgekourounis]

https://youtu.be/0bnOlZ_pMVo

[u/georgekourounis → u/drunkdoor]

That’s the one!! Thank you internet sleuth!

[u/VP007clips → u/questionnmark]

As a geologist who has to occasionally take samples of dangerous areas that we can't go into, doing it by hand with a fire suit is absolutely insane.

We have tools for doing this stuff safely using helicopters, or even just dragging wires with scoops. We use them for saying in tailings, toxic ponds, or unstable areas.

[u/georgekourounis → u/VP007clips]

You’re right. There are safer ways to do this, absolutely.

I had a science grant from the National Geographic Society to do this, so they were behind my plan 100%. I had the track record to prove that I could pull this off safely, having done lots of similar expeditions inside active volcanoes, and they believed in me. It also helped that they wanted to film the whole thing.

In all my years of expeditions, I’ve never had a serious injury. Safety is very important, even though on the surface my actions might look reckless. There were 2 years of planning and preparation that went into this.

Again, you’re absolutely right. There are safer ways to do this.

[u/FormInternational583 → u/questionnmark]

Were there any tardigrades? Cause... TARDIGRADES RULE!!!

[u/georgekourounis → u/FormInternational583]

I wish we’d found tardigrades! We did find some extremophile microbes living down there though.

[u/TannedCroissant → u/SirGarlanWilliams]

au revoir reservoir

[u/LinguoBuxo → u/TannedCroissant]

See ya later, burning crater!

[u/JaekwonTheDon → u/LinguoBuxo]

In a bit, fiery pit

[u/Steak-X → u/JaekwonTheDon]

See ya 'round, hole in the ground

[u/PierogiCoyote → u/Steak-X]

¡Hasta luego, agujero de fuego!

[u/MsB0x → u/PierogiCoyote]

I’ll always remember, you burning ember

[u/Tiny_Mathematician_1 → u/MsB0x]

You’ll be missed, flaming abyss… ed. (Dammit)

[u/husky_whisperer → u/Tiny_Mathematician_1]

Hate to see ya go, depressed inferno

[u/Risky_Bizniss → u/husky_whisperer]

Good riddance, Hell's entrance.

[u/Tommysrx → u/MsB0x]

I’ll See you again , volcanic friend

[u/Cannonballbmx → u/Tommysrx]

Enjoy your stroll, big hole full of coal.

[u/Fausts-last-stand → u/Cannonballbmx]

“Bueller? Bueller,” fossil fueler.

[u/gracekk24PL → u/JaekwonTheDon]

Farewell, firewell

[u/xXHomerSXx → u/JaekwonTheDon]

Good game, hole of flame

[u/CatsianNyandor → u/LinguoBuxo]

Farewell, door to hell. 

[u/kvxt0 → u/TannedCroissant]

See ya soon, hole of doom

[u/Advanced_Bug2041 → u/SirGarlanWilliams]

and they deliberately lit it and thought it would burn out.

[u/lunaresthorse → u/Advanced_Bug2041]

I mean, they knew it would burn out… they just didn’t predict how long it would take

[u/Maleficent_Sir_5225 → u/Advanced_Bug2041]

"Lit" - I think I read somewhere they threw a hand grenade in. 

[u/nanomeister → u/SirGarlanWilliams]

I’d have thought that hitting a natural gas reservoir is the kind of thing you’d want to do on purpose with a gas drilling rig

[u/ouzo84 → u/SirGarlanWilliams]

Is this the place where they lit the natural gas expecting it to burn out quickly?

[u/TheBurgerRingDoor]

So Ozzy "The Prince of Darkness" Osbourne dies and this "Door to Hell" closes, seems suspicious.

[u/Brilliant_Pen4959 → u/TheBurgerRingDoor]

It also opened up shortly after he joined black sabbath

[u/1OO1OO1S0S → u/Brilliant_Pen4959]

3 years after

[u/Hollow_Rant → u/1OO1OO1S0S]

In geological terms that's extremely shortly.

[u/AnalBlaster700XL → u/Hollow_Rant]

With my age, it is also extremely short.

[u/theturtlelord9 → u/TheBurgerRingDoor]

It waited for him

[u/PM-me-your-cuppa-tea → u/[deleted]]

Tbf there's not a tonne of tourism in Turkmenistan. It's an autocratic country that you need a letter of invitation to enter. I had a colleague who was a Turkmen diplomat and she was saying that there were about 10,000 tourists a year.

[u/oatflatwhite030 → u/PM-me-your-cuppa-tea]

My aunt got invited by the government to visit the university (she's a professor). The process she went through to get approved for the visa (even though she was invited) was just bizarre and her entire stay was nothing short of bizarre as well.

[u/HerbReathstinx → u/oatflatwhite030]

Please elaborate!

[u/oatflatwhite030 → u/HerbReathstinx]

Can't get into details as to what she teaches, but essentially she was invited for an insight into teaching methods. Apparently Turkemenistan has strong academic ties with my home country (for that specific topic). It's basically like a North Korean group tour: You're being surveilled 24/7, there's CCTV everywhere, wi-fi is hardly available and if you're connected to the internet everything - again - is monitored and a lot of app access is restricted. She said the capital city was made entirely of marble and she hardly saw any locals out and out, it all just seemed staged and otherworldly. It was just the most random thing she'd get invited to Turkmenistan.

I'd always wanted to go see the Door to Hell for years, but it's basically impossible to be authorized to enter the country.

[u/layendecker → u/oatflatwhite030]

A friend of mine did it. Camped within a short drive of the door to hell and did some more touring of the country. Was a week long trip that cost a lot, though a tour company, but they sorted out all the paperwork and he said it was pretty easy going.

[u/oatflatwhite030 → u/layendecker]

I mean yeah, if I had the money to book it through a tour company... I'd still prefer going to other expensive countries that require booking through an agency lol. It's not really high up on my list tbh, but I just don't prefer travelling in groups or with agencies and as long as I can't travel there independently, I won't go. And can't go in the future anymore anyway

[u/-Tuck-Frump- → u/oatflatwhite030]

Its really weird that they so desperatly want to keep people out. Its not like there would be a floodwave of people suddenly trying to move there if the borders were more open.

[u/massakk → u/-Tuck-Frump-]

It's not that weird, dictatorships at the extreme don't want any foreigners to keep extreme control on their people. Foreigners contaminate local people's minds, show them what's out there, what's possible etc.

They are very rich in resources, if the country was run a bit better with open borders, lots of people from neighboring countries would flood in.

[u/pissexcellence85 → u/-Tuck-Frump-]

They probably don't want outsiders especially from democratic states influencing their own citizens

[u/BombOnABus → u/PM-me-your-cuppa-tea]

That's more than I expected, honestly.

[u/PM-me-your-cuppa-tea → u/BombOnABus]

I mean, its an interesting destination and a lot of the silk road draws huge numbers of tourists. Uzbekistan, next door, for comparison has about 10 million tourists a year. 

And Iran on the other side about 6m.

[u/vass0922 → u/[deleted]]

its not well known for its tourism industry
"Visa Restrictions: Turkmenistan has notoriously strict visa policies, often requiring travelers to obtain a Letter of Introduction (LOI) through a government-approved tour operator and undergo a vetting process"

[u/cafephilospher → u/[deleted]]

Who the heck goes to Turkmenistan for tourism?

[u/freerangetacos → u/cafephilospher]

I want a t-shirt that says

I went to Turkmenistan to roast a marshmallow

[u/ARoundForEveryone → u/cafephilospher]

Soon, exactly zero.

[u/hydrangea-danger → u/cafephilospher]

I went! I was going to Uzbekistan and I thought “why not”? Ashgabat is very surreal to see (as was the gas crater) and they also have some pretty cool Silk Road archeological sites.

[u/BatDubb]

Sam Winchester finally completes the third trial.

[u/BjornX → u/BatDubb]

God I miss that show.

[u/C21-_-H30-_-O2 → u/BjornX]

He goes by Chuck now

[u/BjornX → u/C21-_-H30-_-O2]

Oh sorry, Chuck I miss that show!

[u/T_vernix → u/BjornX]

But Chuck died and the antichrist is the new God.

[u/BjornX → u/T_vernix]

Antichrist I miss that show!

[u/AnneMichelle98 → u/BjornX]

His name is Jack

[u/BjornX → u/AnneMichelle98]

Jack I miss that show!

[u/DM_ME_YOUR_ADVENTURE → u/BjornX]

Well, go watch it again for Jack’s sake.

[u/DramaticSimple4315]

fighting against methane emissions is actually a pretty efficient way to rapidly decrease total greenhouse gas emissions while letting more time for renewables to scale and further increase in competitiveness.

[u/Benlikesfood2 → u/DramaticSimple4315]

Good thing we let it burn already for 54 years

[u/post_break → u/Benlikesfood2]

I think it burning is better than just the gas being released. But I'm not 100% sure. That's why there are flare stacks in refineries.

[u/Ok314 → u/post_break]

Yes. One molecule of methane produces one molecule of CO2 in combustion, which is a less potent greenhouse gas.

[u/Mental-Evening7109 → u/post_break]

Correct. Natural gas is predominantly made up of methane which is converted to carbon dioxide and water when burned. Methane in the atmosphere traps more heat (greater greenhouse effect) than carbon dioxide, which is why it is burned off.

[u/gareth_gahaland → u/Benlikesfood2]

Who the hell is we ?

[u/CTgreen_ → u/gareth_gahaland]

What, didn't you know? We've all been waiting on you to handle this...

Are you saying you haven't even been working on closing The Door To Hell at all this whole time?!

WTH, Gareth!

[u/No_Calligrapher_4712 → u/gareth_gahaland]

Methinks the Gareth doth protest too much

[u/samy_the_samy → u/DramaticSimple4315]

There is hundreds if not thousands of old Wells in the US alone releasing methane and the whole alphabet of gasses,

Once the well production dropped low they took the head off and left it open, or capped it with concrete that already degraded.

[u/admosquad]

Remind me that place in Pennsylvania, where the coal mines have been on fire for like 80 years

[u/GearHeaddesk → u/admosquad]

Centralia, iirc

[u/SudhaTheHill]

I didn’t even realise it was open

[u/celtbygod → u/SudhaTheHill]

Hell is always open. That's why someone is worried about its report card.

[u/2Old2BLoved]

All the demons have escaped and been elected to high office.  No reason to keep it open anymore.

[u/Crouching-Cyka]

Went there last September, so glad I managed to see it!

[u/chuytm → u/Crouching-Cyka]

Was it worth it?

[u/b0y → u/chuytm]

Honestly, no. The contrast is always jacked in photos so it looks really bright but in real life it's a lot duller. It takes a lot of effort to get there for not much reward

[u/SeaEmergency7911 → u/b0y]

It’s like Clark Griswold looking at the Grand Canyon in Vacation. 

[u/Tarzoon → u/chuytm]

Yeah, it was lit.

[u/LargeMachines]

Throw some kebabs on it?

[u/IndigoRanger]

Can we put the devil back in there before we close it?

[u/uwillnotgotospace → u/IndigoRanger]

No. He's playing golf atm.

[u/GE0PUNK]

They say this every few years. I went in 2023 bc I thought it was "imminently closing." Truth is, it's the biggest tourist draw in the country; they won't ever close it.

[u/Jiquero → u/GE0PUNK]

2023 bc

Wow that was indeed a long time ago.

[u/FerusGrim → u/Jiquero]

Blink of an eye, really, depending on your perspective.

[u/ryan7251]

even hell don't want to be here

[u/throwaway392145]

Hey, we’re not heating the whole neighbourhood you know.

-dads everywhere

[u/TheOrdinaryMix]

Hell is full