I’m the first person to descend into the 1,000C flaming ‘door to HELL’ – what I found could help prove alien life
AN EXPLORER who was the first person to descend into the “Door to Hell” discovered something which could help prove the existence of aliens.
The blazing crater is a monstrous flame pit that has burned for more than 40 years in the desert.
Jaw-dropping images of George Kourounis, rappelling 100ft down into the 1000C inferno were released.
The Canadian can be seen dangling above molten rocks spewing hot gases while he descends into the blazing furnace dressed in a protective silver suit.
George was part of the first-ever expedition into the flame pit, located in remote Turkmenistan, which is named the “Door to Hell”.
The intention of the trip was to gather more information about extreme environments.
George said: “The most important part of the mission and the whole thrust behind this entire expedition was to take some samples of the soil at the bottom—sand, basically—and see if there is any extremophile bacteria living at the bottom that could give us clues to basically life in these extreme environments.”
He added: “There are planets that have been discovered outside of our solar system that have a very hot, methane-rich environment kind of similar to what is in the crater.
“So, in essence, we were looking for alien life right here on Earth.”
The soil samples were given to Dr Stefan Green, the microbiologist on the expedition.
Dr Stefan says that a few kinds of bacteria were discovered in the soil from the crater floor.
These extremophiles are, according to Dr Stefan, “enriched” by the Door to Hell’s high temperature and low nutrient levels, among other things.
Along with this discovery of unexpected life in one of the Earth’s most inhospitable places, the Door to Hell has an extraterrestrial tinge to it, according to George.
“The orange glow from the flames makes the ground completely orange, and the walls of the crater look orange,” he said.
“It really reminds me of being on a place like Mars, where you have that orange or red soil. It just has another-Earthly feel,” he added.
Even after many hours preparing for the terrifying feat George admits he still felt the nerves.
He said: “I can tell you when you are standing on the edge of this gigantic crater filled with fire—it is intimidating,”
Although he explained: “It wasn’t dark at all, as a matter of fact, you are surrounded by flames, so everything has this orange hue,”
George was the first person to ever venture inside the fire pit and said upon his descent he still had many questions like: “Will the ropes survive?” and “will the air be breathable?”
Upon touch down George described an “overwhelming feeling”.
He said: “I was in a spot where no human had ever been.
“It was like stepping onto an alien planet – more people have been on the moon.
“It was exciting, adventurous, dangerous, a world first and a contribution to science.
“The expedition had everything I love.”
The incredible 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 heard a rumour the Turkmenistan government was planning to extinguish the flames, he decided to visit the location.
He has tackled volcanoes in the past and revealed his aim, as well as to walk on the surface of the fire pit, was to collect samples of dirt to be analysed.
He also admitted it’s the only expedition where he felt “a bit like a baked potato.”
George described the pit as “a very volatile place.”
He added: “To give you an example of how volatile, at one point I keeled down on the ground, and I’m digging in the sand to try and gather some samples from a below the surface.
“And as I’m digging with a small hand shovel, fire is coming out of the hole that I’m digging.
“I just opened up a new vent as I’m digging down there!”
He completed the challenge in the winter of 2013, images capture him dangling precariously above the crater wearing a heat-reflective suit, breathing apparatus and a custom-made Kevlar harness.
He stayed in the crater for around 15 minutes before being pulled out by the rigging team.
