I was just out here last weekend and the Darvaza Crater awesome. We camped out nearly a half mile from the crater and could see the glow all night as well as hear the hiss of the burning gas. The government of Turkmenistan has no interest in harvesting or using this gas as they have one of the largest natural gas reservoirs in the world and all Turkmen are provided with free natural gas and water until 2020. Their cooking fires are burning around the clock because matches are more expensive than the gas.

Gasoline costs about 23 cents a liter!