5 Places Where Burning Never Stops

 From last 10 years, forest fires, volcanic eruptions and the destruction caused by them, have been in the watch. Apart from that, global warming and climate change also took their positions in changing the planet Earth. 

Along with this, our resources are depleting rapidly. In search of oil, gas, coal, we have willingly or unwillingly explored the unexplored places hidden beneath and above the Earth. 

 "Resources are not, they become"- Zimmerman (An Economist).

When we make most out of the limited available things, that is called creating Resources.

Therefore, today we are going to discuss remarkable burnings the world has ever seen or heard with the ability of becoming a Resource.

1) Darvaza Gas Crater (Turkmenistan)

It is located in mid of the Karakum desert. Also knowns by different names: Door to Hell or Gate of Hell. The beauty of this pit can be seen from miles at night. It has been burning from more than 50 years. It is like a fire pit or even as many people says like a crater of volcano.

But the question is - How this fire pit ended up in this barren desert?

Around 1970, when the country was a part of Soviet Union, Engineers came to drill here in the desert in search of oil, but sooner they realized that they are not drilling the pit, but the pit collapsed suddenly as it was hollow from inside and later developed a crater shape.

Soon after the collapse took place, methane gas came into feel. Methane has a property as it sucks all the oxygen around and spreads itself. Animals around the desert began to die. To handle the situation, scientists lit up the gas to get over with the problem. 

But, unfortunately, the fire continued for weeks, months, years, and still continues. 

Finally, several researches are going on to find the source of Natural gas (which has large amount of methane), soil samples, temperature and life existence under the ground are under observation.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan Karakum desert has converted into a tourist spot, where people from all around the world visits here.

Photo: Darvaza Gas Crater in Karakum desert, Turkmenistan

2) Chamchamal Fire Wall (Iraq)

Few kilometers away from the city of Chamchamal, a well of water was scooped out to meet out the needs of the nearby farms in 2015. When suddenly farmers realized a toxic smell, and many even fainted. To check if the gas is too dangerous, a person threw a matchstick. Since then the fire is burning in the well above the water making the water boiling and filled with toxins and sulfur. 

Iraq has some of the largest and important oil and gas reserves. But the wastage of these natural resources is also immense here. Because in search of oil and gas, there are pits and holes everywhere.

As this well consumes 2,200 liters of gas per day. Imagine!

Photo: Chamchamal Fire Well in Iraq

3) The Smoking Hills (Canada)

When Irish explorer came McClure around 1800 in search of lost explorer named Sir John Franklin, he found the hills burning, but he thought that this must be due to the volcanic activity going underneath. But the actual reason was quite different. 

There is a oil shale reserve beneath the hills which are enriched with sulfur and brown coal (lignite coal) which causes the rocks to ignite continuously and make them erode which results polluting the nearby area. 

As sulfur is not breathable, it can cause to death if get exposure for few minutes.

Since so many years, due to acidic pollutants, the ecosystem of the surrounded area has changed a lot. The color of the stones especially mudstones have changes their color from dark black to red and orange.

It is also known as place of coal or soot. But not easily accessible. 

It is around 60 miles away from the roads. Therefore navigation is possible through boats, helicopters and ships only.

                                                  

                       Photo: Smoking Hills in Canada 

4) Yanardag (Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan has huge reserves of oil and natural gas, therefore, this one has coming up from mountains. It is however, also known as burning mountains. In the Absheron district, Baku, a mountains surrounding a pilgrimage (Buddhist) experiences fire igniting from sandstones is view to imagine and feel.

Yanardag has no relation with any spiritual thing, scientific reason is that it is situated above the natural gas reserve. Continuous eruption of flames are due to the hydrocarbon gases emitting from below the earth's deep which causes fire to ignite. It gives marvelous view when experiencing at night. You can even feel the smell of gas which is all around the mountains.

Though there is a mud volcano nearby which erupts regularly but near the mountains it is a natural gas which is highly inflammable.  

The Buddhists believe in sanctity, therefore they took the area and people from India, Iraq, and other parts of the world come here to see these burning mountains.

5) Mount Wingen (Australia)

It is located in New South Wales where this mountain is also known as Burning Mountains or Burning Mountain Nature Reserve.

We have been studying about coal reserves, natural gas reserves  affecting igniting of fire from past many years, but this one is the oldest as it is occurring from 5500 years ago or older than that. 

Early explorers un the year 1829 found that it must be a volcano beneath the earth's surface but it was a coal seam fire. Which later realized in 1962, when the local fire department was burning trash in the town's landfill, and from that day to this day fire is continuously burning affecting various life of flora, fauna, and humans.

It is around 30 meters thick below the surface and the temperature there is to be is thought around 1700°C.

The nature reserve surrounding Burning Mountain comprises two small blocks joined by a narrow strip of land. 

It is located on a prominent ridge and the two blocks: North- western slope (Mount Wingen) and the north-eastern slope (Burning Mountain). 

The northern block consists almost entirely of the Koogah Formation (sandstone, shale, conglomerate and coal), with a minor occurrence of Bickham Formation rocks (lithic sandstone, conglomerate). 

While, the southern block also contains Koogah Formation rocks as well as important outcrops of Werrie Basalt (Permian age). 

This mountain is sulfur-tinged smoke is the only hint of a massive coal seam burning 30m under the ground. Heat and toxic gases from the fire have left it rocky and jagged in parts, and the land has caved in.

Photo : Hazelwood Open Cut Fire in Australia

Photo: Mount Wingen in Australia burning over 5000 years

Resources are everywhere, we just need to make use out of it. Imagine how much gas, oil, coal have been consumed by these god knows ending fire ignitions. 

The consumption rate is excessively higher, The wastage reminds us how unevenly and poorly distribution of resources are all around the world. 

As we are moving forward towards sustainable development, we need to understand the importance of these resources, not just for us but for upcoming generation as well.