A gas crater known as the ‘Karakum Glow’ has been burning in Turkmenistan for over 50 years. This phenomenon arose in 1971 as a result of drilling operations. This was reported by the Stavropol website.

However, today the fire has significantly weakened. The intensity of the burning has decreased threefold: if earlier the light from the crater was visible for kilometres, now it is only noticeable near the crater itself, which has a diameter of about 70 metres.

The reason for the weakening of the flame is obvious — the depletion of the gas reserves that feed the fire. Despite Turkmenistan's rich deposits, the underground methane reserves in the crater area are coming to an end.

Environmentalists see this as a positive sign: methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.