The Darvaza Gas Crater is without doubt one of the more bizarre sights I have seen. Located in the Karakum Desert about 250kms north of Ashgabat it was created when Russian engineers were exploring for gas. A giant sink hole formed where they were drilling. Deciding the best option was was to burn it off they set fire to it - and that was 48 years ago. Today it is still burning strong and shows no signs of extinguishing itself. About 80 metres across and 30 metres deep it's one huge fire pit. After a somewhat thrilling journey in a convoy of six 4WDs, which included passing herds of wild camels and goats and dodging ever numerous potholes at speeds of 120-140kmh, we arrived to witness this spectacle just before sunset. After a Turkmen BBQ of lamb and salad the real spectacle unfolded as it darkness enveloped us. The pit of fire came to life and even a slight change of wind lifted the air temperature to red hot. As with any form of fire the flames were mesmerising and the red hot pit was all that could be seen in the darkness. Eventually the time came to leave, for the long 4 hour drive back to Ashgabat. It was almost incident free except for a very close call between one of our vehicles and a camel and the retirement of one car with mechanical issues. Our time in Ashgabat was rounded out with a visit to the ancient city of Nisha, Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex which was built to honour those illed in the 1948 earthquake, WW2 and other Turkmen battles.