Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
2 comments 
The Government of Turkmenistan Transformed Ashgabat into the City with the Highest Concentration of Buildings Coated in White Marble and Kept Active the ‘Gate of Hell’, an Around 70 Meter Wide Crater Burning Since 1971 to Contain Natural Gas, Causing an Urban and Energy Contrast That Draws International Attention.
In the middle of Central Asia, a country decided to radically alter its urban landscape and its public image. While in the desert a crater about 70 meters in diameter has been burning continuously for over 50 years, in the capital the order was clear: everything should reflect white, monumentality, and visual standardization.
The result draws attention for the contrast. On one side, the permanent fire in the ground since 1971. On the other, wide avenues, buildings covered in white marble, and a policy that discourages dark-colored cars.
What seemed like just an aesthetic choice became a symbol of power, control, and national identity.
-
With 1 trillion yuan in investments, China is creating from scratch a “city of the future” almost the size of London to relieve Beijing and transform the project into part of the legacy of supreme leader Xi Jinping.
-
A love letter written 540 years ago reappears thanks to artificial intelligence and reveals a surprising story of passion, family conflicts, a dowry dispute, and difficult choices that challenged the rules of medieval England.
-
Archaeologists discover network of millennia-old tunnels under mountains revealing advanced engineering of a lost civilization
-
Meet Jack, the baboon who started by pushing a railwayman’s wheelchair, became an official station employee, guided trains for 9 years without making mistakes, and became one of the most moving stories ever seen on the tracks.
The Darvaza Crater Burning for Over Five Decades in the Karakum Desert
The so-called Gate of Hell is located in the Karakum Desert.
It was created in 1971, during a Soviet drilling operation in search of natural gas. The ground collapsed and revealed a subterranean cavity filled with methane gas.
To prevent the dispersion of toxic gases, engineers decided to ignite the area. The estimate was that the fire would last a few days.
More than 50 years later, the flames are still active.
The crater is about 70 meters in diameter and approximately 20 meters deep. At night, the glow is visible from a great distance.
Experts point out that extinguishing the fire may be technically complex due to underground pressure and geological conditions.
Ashgabat Has Become the City with the Highest Concentration of White Marble Buildings in the World
If in the desert the scene is one of continuous fire, in the capital the visual follows the opposite direction.
Ashgabat entered the Guinness World Records as the city with the highest concentration of buildings coated in white marble.
There are public buildings, ministries, monuments, and administrative complexes that follow the same architectural standard.
The decision came from the government, which determined that the capital should reflect prosperity and grandeur.
The detail that attracted the most attention was the visual standardization that extended to vehicles. Reports indicate that black cars began to be withdrawn from circulation, and owners were encouraged to adopt light colors such as white or silver.
The change immediately altered the urban landscape.
One of the Largest Holders of Natural Gas on the Planet Under Strong State Control
Turkmenistan has one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world. The Galkynysh field is often cited as one of the largest ever identified.
Estimates suggest that the country ranks among the top global holders of the resource.
This energy wealth supports monumental urban projects and large public works.
At the same time, the country maintains strict control over the internet and the circulation of information. According to experts, the level of centralization draws international attention.
The impact is evident: an abundance of natural resources combined with limited external integration.
Luxurious Cities in the Middle of the Desert and on the Caspian Sea Coast Have Low Occupancy
Besides the capital, urban projects have been erected in desert areas and along the Caspian Sea.
High-end hotels, wide avenues, and modern infrastructure have been built with the expectation of attracting international visitors.
There are no official numbers released regarding the occupancy rate of these spaces.
Reports indicate that some of these areas register low traffic, leading to the expression of almost empty luxurious cities.
The contrast between high investment and low public presence reinforces the unique character of the country.
Contrast Between Permanent Fire, White Marble, and Isolation Has Transformed the Country into a Unique Case in the World
Few places concentrate such visible extremes.
A crater open since 1971 burning natural gas continuously and a capital that decided to become the whitest on the planet.
The change was aesthetic, energetic, and political.
The impact was immediate on the international image of the country, which came to be cited as one of the most peculiar in the 21st century.
While the fire remains active in the desert and white marble dominates the capital, Turkmenistan remains surrounded by global curiosity.
Did you already know about this contrast between the Gate of Hell and the entirely white city? Share your opinion in the comments.
Isso deve ser uma **** das bravas. Igual russia e china. Xooooooooooo.
Bela Matéria! Poucas pessoa conhecem este País.Ela só se contradiz ao inferir que a cidade belíssima deveria atrair turistas, uma vez que trata-se de um País fechado. Você só pode ingressar lá a convite do Governo ou com propósito bem especifico. Nao acho que turismo seja bem visto por lá nao. É bem bonito. A noite esfria bem e nao há Taxi também. Acho que uns 85% da população trabalha em estatais. Tive a oportunidade de conhecer. Fiz fotos lindas de prédios com arquiteturas arrojadas. O hotel que fiquei era suntuoso. 👏👏👏