Wednesday, June 17, 2009

This is Extraordinarily COOL

This is the Gates of Hell. And they're located in Turkmenistan.







It's a 328 feet wide hole in the Karakum Desert that's been burning since 1971. 38 years. Continually.

The gas hole was caused by a Soviet Drilling Rig that punctured a massive underground natural gas cavern in 1971. Poisonous fumes began to leak from the hole, so the Soviets set it alight. It hasn't stopped burning since then.

You can find out more about the Darvaza Gas Crater here , in the Atlas Obscura (an incredibly interesting website and definitely worth the look)

Apparently, there's also similar craters in Germany and my home state of Pennsylvania, but they're not as picturesque as this one. The one in Germany however, has been burning since 1688!

Monday, June 01, 2009

I'm Not Dead!

Really, I'm not. Just give me another week. I've got finals the next couple of days. Not to mention a life sized self portrait dues this Wednesday.
But, as soon as school's over I'll be back to posting normally!