IN THE HOT, EXPANSIVE KARAKUM desert in Turkmenistan, near the 350-person village of Darvaza, is a hole 230 feet wide that has been on fire for over 50 years. Though technically called the Darvaza gas crater, locals know the crater as “The Gates of Hell.” Its fiery glow can be seen for miles around.
The Gates of Hell crater was created in 1971 when a Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a massive underground natural gas cavern, causing the ground to collapse and the entire drilling rig to fall in. Having punctured a pocket of gas, poisonous fumes began leaking at an alarming rate.
To head off a potential environmental catastrophe, the Soviets set the hole alight, figuring it would stop burning within a few weeks. Decades later, and the fiery pit is still going strong. The Soviet drilling rig is believed to still be down there somewhere, on the other side of the “Gates of Hell.”
Amazingly, despite the crater’s foreboding name and ever-present flames, people still trek into the desert to witness the site in all its blazing glory. The country’s government hopes it’ll become a tourist site, and the nearby desert has already become a popular place to wild camp.
KRAFTON announces pre-registrations for BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA
Simple seamless process welcomes gaming aficionados across India
New Delhi, 18th May 2021 - KRAFTON, the premier South Korean video game developer, today announced pre-registration for BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA. Developed by KRAFTON, the pre-registration for the game is now live on Google Play Store for fans in India.
Players pre-registering for BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA will get 4 amazing rewards, the Recon Mask, the Recon Outfit, Celebration Expert Title, and 300 AG. These rewards are for fans who pre-register, so get ready to dive in and enjoy the battle royale experience on BATTLEGROUNDS with your friends. Players can follow the simple steps to pre-register seamlessly. To pre-register for BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA, please visit the Google Play Store Link and click on the “Pre-Register” button, and your rewards will automatically be available to claim on game launch. Set in a virtual world, BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA is a battle royale game where multiple players employ strategies to fight and be the last man standing. A free-to-play, multiplayer experience from KRAFTON, players can battle it out in diverse game modes which can be squad-based or even one-on-one. Featuring diverse maps with different terrains on a virtual setting, BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA utilizes the full capabilities of Unreal Engine 4 to bring alive fantastic worlds augmented by 3D sound, to build a truly immersive experience on a mobile phone.
The recommended system requirements to experience the game seamlessly are Android 5.1.1 or above and at least 2 GB RAM in the mobile device. Pick your map and the mode that suits you and get set for a thrilling ride. More than pure combat, BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA, is also a battle of wits, as you develop strategies to take on your enemies with friends or solo and defeat them to be the last man standing.
10. Aquarium of Western Australia (0,8 million gallons)
Located in a coastal suburb of Perth, the Aquarium of Western Australia, or AQWA in short, contains Australia’s largest aquarium tank. The aquarium's main tank is 40 meters (130 ft) long and 20 meters (66 ft) wide and holds 3,000,000 liters (793,000 gallons) of seawater. It incorporates a 98 meter (322 ft) underwater tunnel. For a fee, snorkelers and divers can get even closer to the fish, sharks, and rays by joining the aquarium’s dive master in exploring the main tank.
9. Aquarium of Genoa (about 1 million gallons)
Built for Expo 92, the Aquarium of Genoa in Italy is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. The aquarium’s 70 tanks reproduce marine and terrestrial habitats from throughout the world and provide a home for more than 6000 animals. Some tanks reproduce natural environments from different areas as the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The most spectacular ones are those housing the sharks, the dolphins and the seals.
8. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium (about 1 million gallons)
The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in Asia. It is composed of 9 exhibition zones of all over the world, including the China Zone, the Antarctic Zone and the Australia Zone. The China Zone is home to several endangered Chinese aquatic species, including rare and precious species from the Yangtze River. The biggest attraction of the aquarium is the underwater tunnel. At 155 meter (509 ft) it is the longest underwater tunnel in the world.
7. uShaka Marine World (about 1 million gallons)
The uShaka Marine World is a theme park located in Durban, South Africa. It contains the largest aquarium in Africa boasting 32 tanks. The sea creatures found in the aquarium range from small sea horses all the way through to sharks and dolphins. The Aquarium is built to look like an old wreck and contains a number of restaurants and cafes. The most notable of these restaurants is “The Cargo Hold” restaurant which contains a full wall sized aquarium containing a number of sharks which are visible from most of the dining area.
6. Monterey Bay Aquarium (1,2 million gallons)
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on the site of a former sardine cannery on Cannery Row in Monterey, California. Among the aquarium’s numerous exhibits are two gigantic tanks. The centerpiece of the Ocean’s Edge Wing is a 10 meter (33 foot) high 1,3 million liter (0,33 million gallon) tank for viewing California coastal marine life. The other one is a 4,5 million liter (1,2 million gallon) tank in the Outer Bay Wing which features one of the world’s largest single-paned windows. Sealife on exhibit includes stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters, and numerous other native marine species, which can be viewed above and below the waterline.
5. Turkuazoo (1,32 million gallons)
Opened in 2009, Turkuazoo is Turkey’s first giant aquarium featuring a rainforest, flooded forest and tropical seas zones. The aquarium is located inside the Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall and contains a 80 meter long underwater tunnel. Turkuazoo holds about 10,000 sea creatures including tiger sharks, giant stingrays and piranhas in 29 different exhibits where the largest holds 5 million liters (1,32 million gallons) of water.
4. L'Oceanografic (1,85 million gallons)
L’Oceanogràfic is a marine complex where different marine habitats are represented. It is integrated inside a complex known as the City of Arts and Sciences inside the city of Valencia, Spain. The Oceanogràfic features the largest aquarium tank in Europe and houses more than 45,000 marine creatures. They populate nine under water towers, structured on two levels that represent several marine ecosystems. Two underwater towers are joined by a 35 meter underwater tunnel and it’s tank is filled with sharks, rays and 7 million liters (1,85 million gallon) of water.
3. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (1,98 million gallons)
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is located within the Ocean Expo Park in Japan and was opened in 2002. The main tank of the aquarium, called the Kuroshio Sea, holds 7,5 million liters (1,981,000 gallons) of water and features an acrylic glass panel measuring 8.2 by 22.5 meters (27 by 74 feet) with a thickness of 60 centimeters (24 inches), the largest such panel in the world when the aquarium was opened. Whale sharks and manta rays are kept alongside many other fish species in Kuroshio Sea. As of July 2010, there have been a total of four manta rays born in the aquarium.
2. Dubai Mall Aquarium (2,64 million gallons)
The Dubai Mall, one the world’s largest shopping malls in the world, is part of the 20-billion-dollar Burj Dubai complex in Dubai. The centerpiece of the mall is the gigantic aquarium tank, with the capacity to hold 10 million liters (2,64 million gallons) of water. The aquarium has more than 33,000 living animals including over 400 sharks and rays combined. It officially earned the Guinness World Record for the world’s “Largest Acrylic Panel”. The panel measures 8.3 by 32.88 meter (27 by 108 feet) and is 75 centimeters (30 inches) thick beating Japan’s Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium to the punch. In February 2010, the shark filled tank sprang a leak causing an evacuation and brief shutdown of the mall.
1. Georgia Aquarium (6,3 million gallons)
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the world housing more than 100,000 sea creatures. Funded mostly by a $250 million donation from Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, the aquarium opened in November 2005. The Georgia Aquarium is the only institution outside of Asia to house whale sharks. The sharks are kept in a gigantic 24 million liter (6.3 million gallon) tank in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. There has been controversy surrounding the decision of the Georgia Aquarium to house whale sharks. Concerns about keeping the whale sharks in captivity were heightened by the deaths of two of the whale sharks originally obtained.
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Locally known as the ‘route of death’, this Bolivian road is 80 km long and considered by many as the world’s most dangerous road. But this doesn’t stop many adrenaline junkies from taking on the route which separates Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, and Coroico in the Yungas region.
Guoliang Tunnel (China)
The tunnel is located in the Taihang mountains in the Chinese province of Henan and is one of the most famous in the world. This road was built by local people in the early 70s, but it only provided access to this small town 7 years later. It replaced the narrow steps up the side of the mountain with 1.2 km of road and a tunnel which passes through the mountain.
Karakorum Highway (Pakistan)
This road is 4693 metres above sea level and is known as the highest asphalt road. It forms part of the Silk Road and is known for its long route through the range, between mountains and glaciers. It has become an important tourist attraction thanks to the impressive landscape along the route, connecting the capital of Pakistan with China.
James W. Dalton Highway (Alaska, USA)
A driver’s worst nightmare in this part of the world are the extreme polar weather conditions. Ice, fog and blizzards are common here, making this one of the world’s most dangerous roads. There are only three towns along this route and, as the conditions are so difficult, you should always take provisions and warm clothes, as you’re likely to become trapped in the middle of nowhere.
It is commonly known as the James W. Dalton Highway, but its official name is Alaska Route 11. Coincidently, it stretches 666 km, from the interior of Alaska State almost to the Arctic Ocean.
Skippers Canyon (New Zealand)
Oceania is also home to some very dangerous roads. Skippers Canyon is truly unique and is characterised by its many hills and non-paved sections. This road was built at the end of the 19th century to aid those who went in search of gold on the mountain slopes.
The canyon follows a very narrow, unpaved course full of sharp bends. It will certainly take your breath away.
El Caracol (Chile-Argentina)
This road is located in the Andean mountains, reaching an altitude of almost 3900 m, and joins Argentina and Chile.
It’s known as the Ruta del Caracol or Paso de Los Libertadores. You’ll find several tight bends, especially on the Chilean side, and it’s particularly hazardous due to the heavy lorries that travel along it, making it one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
Rohtang Pass (India)
This road is still under construction and is estimated to be 8 km long. This spectacular route is located in the Himalayan mountains and known for being one of the longest tunnels in India. It attracts large numbers of tourists thanks to its stunning landscape. It passes through forests, mountains and glaciers. This journey through one of India’s tallest mountains makes for a spectacular adventure. It is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most dangerous roads.
Passage du Gois (France)
This road is located in Vandea, covering 4.5 km and connecting the island of Noirmoutier with France. It’s known for being a route over the Atlantic Ocean, so it’s usually covered by water. It’s only accessible for a few hours each day as it’s dependent on the tide and is very well known for being part of the Tour de France route in 1999. When visiting Noirmoutier, remember that access to the island depends on the tide. If you’re lucky, you’ll get just 3 hours to use it.
