I Felt the Pulse of the Earth at the Gates of Hell [Turkmenistan]

Traveling by land from Khiva, Uzbekistan, through Shavat to Turkmenistan, I aimed to visit the Gates of Hell. On the way, I saw the UNESCO World Heritage site at Kunya-Urgench, then traveled for four hours on unpaved roads to reach the Gates of Hell. By the time I arrived, it was night, and flames were continuously burning from the bottom of the massive hole. The occasional gusts of wind brought waves of heat, and watching the ever-burning flames, I felt the pulse of the Earth. I had always wanted to visit this place, and I couldn't stop taking pictures. I stayed overnight in a nearby yurt. However, it was extremely hot even at night in the midsummer desert, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep. As dawn broke, I gazed at the Gates of Hell in a daze. The Gates of Hell, which have been burning for 52 years, are said to be closing in December as part of the country's CO2 reduction goals, according to the guide. However, every year they say it will close, and it hasn't happened yet, so it's uncertain. But there are now drilling facilities near the Gates of Hell, indicating they might be serious this time. If you haven't seen it yet and want to, I recommend going soon.