http://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/575266/Door-to-hell-Turkmenistan-flame-pit-first-man
World-renowned explorer George Kourounis, 44, was part of the first-ever expedition into Turkmenistan's flame pit dubbed the 'Door to Hell'.
He braved temperatures in excess of 1,000C to rappel almost 100ft into the flame-filled crater before walking across the surface of the remote location.
The bizarre landmark - officially called The Darvaza Crater - has been alight for more than 40 years after a drilling accident caused Soviet scientists to set it on fire to burn off excess gas.
When George, from Toronto, Canada, heard a rumour the Turkmenistan government were planning to extinguish the flames, he decided to up his efforts to visit the location.
In the past he has taken on volcanoes and revealed his aim, as well as to walk on the surface, was to collect samples of dirt to be analysed.
George completed the challenge in the winter of 2013 and it was later discovered bacteriawas present, despite the hot, methane-rich environment.
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He found bacteria thriving even in this hostile environment. This leaves the door open to the possibility of finding life on even the most hostile environment of some planets out there. Also leaves that door open to life being part of our volcanoes.
World-renowned explorer George Kourounis, 44, was part of the first-ever expedition into Turkmenistan's flame pit dubbed the 'Door to Hell'.
He braved temperatures in excess of 1,000C to rappel almost 100ft into the flame-filled crater before walking across the surface of the remote location.
The bizarre landmark - officially called The Darvaza Crater - has been alight for more than 40 years after a drilling accident caused Soviet scientists to set it on fire to burn off excess gas.
When George, from Toronto, Canada, heard a rumour the Turkmenistan government were planning to extinguish the flames, he decided to up his efforts to visit the location.
In the past he has taken on volcanoes and revealed his aim, as well as to walk on the surface, was to collect samples of dirt to be analysed.
George completed the challenge in the winter of 2013 and it was later discovered bacteriawas present, despite the hot, methane-rich environment.
______________________________________________________
He found bacteria thriving even in this hostile environment. This leaves the door open to the possibility of finding life on even the most hostile environment of some planets out there. Also leaves that door open to life being part of our volcanoes.
