{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Derweze | native_name = | other_name = Derweze obasy | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Turkmenistan | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Turkmenistan | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name = 25px Turkmenistan | subdivision_name1 = Ahal Province | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Gökdepe District | subdivision_type3 = Rural council | subdivision_name3 = Derweze geňeşligi | established_title = | established_date = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_land_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2022 official census | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2,166 | population_urban = | population_metro = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = | timezone = | utc_offset = +5 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|40.09871853378001|58.34812141283926|region:TM|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }} thumb|Derweze surroundings 2015. '''Derweze''', also known as '''Darvaza''' (in Russian: ''Дарваза''), is a village in Gökdepe District, Ahal Province, Turkmenistan. It is located in the middle of the Karakum Desert, about 260 km north of Ashgabat. Derweze's inhabitants are mostly Turkmen of the Teke tribe, preserving a semi-nomadic lifestyle. In 2022, it had a population of 2,166 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Türkmenistanyň Statistika baradaky döwlet komiteti|url=https://www.stat.gov.tm/population-census|access-date=2025-12-04|website=www.stat.gov.tm}}</ref>
== Etymology == Derweze is derivated from Persian "''Darvazeh''" ("''دروازه''") which means "''Gateway''".
== History == Derweze was initially a town located 8 km further north than the current settlement.
In 2004, the town was disbanded following the order of the President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, because "it was an unpleasant sight for tourists."{{cn|date=August 2017}} The town has been completely destroyed since then.
On 28 April 2016, Derweze Rural Council was established, and the village of '''Aeroport''' was designated as its seat. Derweze was re-established as a village by renaming the village of "Aeroport" to "Derweze."<ref name="decree">{{cite web |date=28 April 2016 |title=TÜRKMENISTANYŇ MEJLISINIŇ KARARY № 391-V |url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/w/images/2/2a/1992-2018-TKM_geoname_changes_TK-ocr.pdf |publisher=Parliament of Turkmenistan |page=177 |language=Turkmen}}</ref>
==Transportation== The Darvaza area is served by the Ashgabat-Dashoguz Automobile Highway and the Içoguz station on the Trans-Karakum Railway. A landing strip for small cargo aircraft is located at the village of Derweze.<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/390153617 Landing strip at Aeroport village on OpenStreetMap]</ref>
== Darvaza gas crater == {{main|Darvaza gas crater}} thumb|Panorama of the crater site, 2011 thumb|Turquoise Lake Crater, 2010 thumb|Mud Crater, 2010 The Darvaza area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kressmann |first=Jeremy |url=http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/25/turkmenistans-door-to-hell/ |title=Turkmenistan's "Door to Hell" |publisher=Gadling.com |date=2008-03-25 |accessdate=2014-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/turkmenistan-has-its-very-own-gate-to-hell/|title = Turkmenistan's "Gate to Hell" is Keeping a Destitute Village Afloat| date=8 April 2014 }}</ref> The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of {{convert|70|m|ft}} at {{Coord|40.25264|58.43941|format=dms|name=The Gates of Hell|type:landmark}}. The fire may have originated from a local Soviet decision to avoid poisonous gas discharge, by burning off the gas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://englishrussia.com/?p=1830 |title=Darvaz: The Door to Hell |publisher=English Russia |date=2008-03-25 |accessdate=2014-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08vxl52/how-the-soviets-accidentally-discovered-the-gates-of-hell- |title=How the Soviets accidentally discovered the 'Gates of Hell' |publisher=BBC |date=2020-10-23 |accessdate=2020-10-23}}</ref> and while geologists had hoped the fire would consume the fuel in a few days, the gas is still burning fifty years later.
Locals have named the crater the "Door to Hell".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yourenotfromaroundhere.com/blog/hell-is-great-hell-turkmenistan/ |title=The Burning Gas Door to Hell in Darvaza, Turkmenistan |publisher=Yourenotfromaroundhere.com |date=2012-07-31 |accessdate=2014-03-02}}</ref>
== Rural Council == The village is the seat of a rural council (geňeşlik) including three villages:
* '''Derweze''', village * Ataguýy, village * Böri, village
== See also == * Darvaza gas crater, the main tourist attraction in the area. * Energy policy of the Soviet Union * Eternal Flame Falls * List of cities, towns and villages in Turkmenistan * List of municipalities in Ahal Province * Mine fire * Sidoarjo mud flow * Ýerbent, a nearby town that is also in the Karakum Desert.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Derweze}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110916194904/http://johnhbradley.com/pictures2.asp?var=070707darvaza Photos from the Darvaza Gas Crater or "Gates of Hell"] * [http://www.stantours.com/tm_rg_ahal_do.html Tourist information for Darvaza] ** {{YouTube|TEjoga1yrn0|Flaming Crater, Darvaza Turkmenistan 1/6 - Phillips Connor}} * [http://www.gosmiley.com/eyecatcher/hells_gate.html Pictures and YouTube link] * [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x53mer_au-bord-du-cratere-de-darvaza_travel Au bord du cratère de Darvaza]
Category:Populated places in Ahal Region {{Turkmenistan-geo-stub}} Category:Villages in Turkmenistan