Another example of how we are destroying the earth

[kentuck]

In the desert in Turkmenistan is a hole 328 ft. wide that has been on fire, continuously, for 38 years. In 1971, 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. Poisonous fumes began leaking from the hole. To head off a potential deadly catastrophe, the Soviets set the hole aflame.

[Brickbat]

1. Pretty amazing.

[ensho]

2. good grief! makes me think of the coal mines that have been on fire

for decades in Pa.

[kentuck]

3. As a kid, in the hills of Kentucky...

I used to walk around the mountainside of Bell Jellico and smoke would come out of the ground, leftover from a mine explosion in 1945 at Fourmile, KY which killed 25 miners. As far as I know, it is still burning today?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upq4pw9YwMw

.

[kentuck]

6. I was born and raised about 5 miles from this site.

I was a neighbor to Joe Hatfield in the 1970's.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

5. That was my first thought.

Centralia springs to mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania

[AwakeAtLast]

9. Centrailia

Been there. REALLY creepy.

[tom_paine]

4. Wow. Check out these You Tube vids of it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEjoga1yrn0&feature=related

Here it is at night...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QytDpZnZec&feature=related

[hunter]

7. At least that natural gas is not being turned into dangerous useless crap like cars...

... or pesticides, or land mines...

It's sort of pretty.

[tk2kewl]

8. Looks like a good location for the new B.P. corporate headquarters

[lonestarnot]

11. dickshootemintheface cheney already has it staked out and claimed.

[Odin2005]

10. Looks like the entrance to Hell.

Quick, get me a crucifix and some holy water!

[lonestarnot]

12. Nope just dickshootemintheface Cheney's hidey hole.

[Odin2005]

13. That would call for even MORE holy water!

:yoiks:

[lonestarnot]

LOL

We don't have any more. Just dead stuff.

[Duer 157099]

14. If I were raising my child to fear hell, I'd definitely take him there

for a look-see.

[Duer 157099]

15. Perfect locale for next season of Survivor!

Just imagine the immunity challenges!

Could be fun.

[sylveste]

16. to be fair

the earth is going to be fine. we may all die, but the planet will be just fine for a long long time.

[kentuck]

17. And the oil spill in the Gulf is natural...?

and the water will take care of it?