Turquoise lake crater, Darvaza, Turkmenistan

Darvaza is a Turkmenistan village of about 350 inhabitants, located in the middle of the Karakum desert, about 260 km north from Ashgabat. The Derweze area is rich in natural gas. Other than the burning crater, two other craters of similar origin are located there. These craters are not burning as the gas pressure is much weaker. At the bottom of one of these craters is light grey mud while the last crater contains a turquoise lake. This lake prevents further attempts at drilling. Not far from the burning crater are several dormant wells. 

Images of turquoise lake, Darvaza, Turkmenistan