Simple really, it's a huge reservoir of fuel. Also, no one quite knows how long it will continue to burn. There's some variations around the world. See: Coal seam fire - Wikipedia One has been burning since 1668! That's almost 350 years! read more
In 2004, the President of Turkmenistan declared that the village was unpleasant for tourists and should be closed. Then, in 2010, the President became concerned about safety issues at the crater and ordered it be closed or filled. However, no actions have been taken and the fire in the Door to Hell continues to burn. read more
Dropping in on Turkmenistan's 'door to hell' – in pictures Forty years ago, a vast molten cavity known as the Darvaza crater – nicknamed the “door to hell” – opened up in the desert of north Turkmenistan, and has been burning ever since. read more