Comments on: Giant Burning Holes of the World http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: imag http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519936 imag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519936 It's interesting that people say these places are like hell - my guess is that these holes actually were the origin for people's concept of hell in the first place. It seems pretty clear: fire, brimstone, underground. If Heaven is in the clouds, these pits sure look like a glimpse into the "other place" to me. It’s interesting that people say these places are like hell – my guess is that these holes actually were the origin for people’s concept of hell in the first place.

It seems pretty clear: fire, brimstone, underground. If Heaven is in the clouds, these pits sure look like a glimpse into the “other place” to me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-520195 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-520195 I am originally from Pottsville, PA, a few miles to the south of Centralia. It is very eery at night if you are able to drive through. Glowing plumes of smoke rise from vent holes in the ground. During the day if you look around you can see smoldering trees and asphalt roads that are caving in. Some people thought (and some still do) that coal companies and the government were in cahoots to evacuate the town and strip mine the area but that doesn't seem to be possible considering the fires are so hot that water turns to steam before reaching the burning surfaces of the mine. It is fascinating! I am originally from Pottsville, PA, a few miles to the south of Centralia. It is very eery at night if you are able to drive through. Glowing plumes of smoke rise from vent holes in the ground. During the day if you look around you can see smoldering trees and asphalt roads that are caving in.

Some people thought (and some still do) that coal companies and the government were in cahoots to evacuate the town and strip mine the area but that doesn’t seem to be possible considering the fires are so hot that water turns to steam before reaching the burning surfaces of the mine.

It is fascinating!

]]> By: JR in WV http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519437 JR in WV Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519437 Hi: Out in the American West, Colorado specifically, there are many tall mesas with coal seams low down. When these coal seams have burned, the whole mesa is cooked into clinker, bright red rock that has a ceramic quality, and clinks when tapped with a tool or against other rocks. It's common to find fossils burnt into a ceramic-like rock, with a deep pink or red hue. No telling how these ancient mesas caught fire, lightning, range fire, even set fires to drive prey animals into killing fields or over cliffs. I would assume that new fires beneath mesas out west would be possible, for sure all the mesas with coal seams in them haven't already been burnt. That pit in Asia, though, it's really amazing, like a porthole into hell for sure! I saw it some time back on a geological site, amazing! JR Hi:

Out in the American West, Colorado specifically, there are many tall mesas with coal seams low down. When these coal seams have burned, the whole mesa is cooked into clinker, bright red rock that has a ceramic quality, and clinks when tapped with a tool or against other rocks.

It’s common to find fossils burnt into a ceramic-like rock, with a deep pink or red hue.

No telling how these ancient mesas caught fire, lightning, range fire, even set fires to drive prey animals into killing fields or over cliffs.

I would assume that new fires beneath mesas out west would be possible, for sure all the mesas with coal seams in them haven’t already been burnt.

That pit in Asia, though, it’s really amazing, like a porthole into hell for sure! I saw it some time back on a geological site, amazing!

JR

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519969 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519969 <i>my guess is that these holes actually were the origin for people's concept of hell in the first place.</i> Gehenna comes from Ge Hinnom or Hinnom Valley. It was the town dump for ancient Jerusalem and filled with fire and noxious fumes. my guess is that these holes actually were the origin for people’s concept of hell in the first place.

Gehenna comes from Ge Hinnom or Hinnom Valley. It was the town dump for ancient Jerusalem and filled with fire and noxious fumes.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519726 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519726 That's not Centralia that's some town in Russia http://englishrussia.com/?p=1830 That’s not Centralia that’s some town in Russia

http://englishrussia.com/?p=1830

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519474 Beanolini Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519474 Peat can burn underground as well. My sister once accidentally started an underground peat fire- it burnt for a couple of days. Peat can burn underground as well. My sister once accidentally started an underground peat fire- it burnt for a couple of days.

]]> By: Big Ed Dunkel http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519221 Big Ed Dunkel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519221 Centralia should do like my annual BBQs: get friends to make a circle around hibachi and put out the flames "the old fashioned way". Centralia should do like my annual BBQs: get friends to make a circle around hibachi and put out the flames “the old fashioned way”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519480 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519480 Crater can be found using google Earth at coordinates: 40.252617° 58.440159° another blog post that mentions it: http://brusnichka.com/2008/03/26/darwaz-the-door-in-hell/ Crater can be found using google Earth at coordinates: 40.252617° 58.440159°

another blog post that mentions it: http://brusnichka.com/2008/03/26/darwaz-the-door-in-hell/

]]> By: Rezpect http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519231 Rezpect Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519231 That burning hole looks cool and all, but this story is so sad and disturbing to me. These fires are such a waste of natural resources and are so bad for the environment. That burning hole looks cool and all, but this story is so sad and disturbing to me. These fires are such a waste of natural resources and are so bad for the environment.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519487 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519487 The Smoking Hills in northern Canada have been a hot spot in the tundra for centuries. No one really knows how long they have been burning; they likely were ignited some time after the last ice sheet melted away, about 9000 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_Hills The Smoking Hills in northern Canada have been a hot spot in the tundra for centuries. No one really knows how long they have been burning; they likely were ignited some time after the last ice sheet melted away, about 9000 years ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_Hills

]]> By: joshuafoer http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519234 joshuafoer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519234 Shoot... the site seems to be having problems again. Our developer was up late last night recalibrating the server. Whatever mojo he performed seemed to have it working pretty smoothly, but now it's down again. We're in the process of switching to a bigger, better, beefier (Boing-proof) server, but it could be a few hours. Please hang tight. We sincerely apologize. Shoot… the site seems to be having problems again. Our developer was up late last night recalibrating the server. Whatever mojo he performed seemed to have it working pretty smoothly, but now it’s down again. We’re in the process of switching to a bigger, better, beefier (Boing-proof) server, but it could be a few hours. Please hang tight. We sincerely apologize.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519493 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519493 The comedy movie Nothing But Trouble is based on the Centralia story. No kidding. The comedy movie Nothing But Trouble is based on the Centralia story. No kidding.

]]> By: headfirstonly http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519241 headfirstonly Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519241 Very impressive photograph. I have a feeling Centralia inspired the setting of the videogame "Silent Hill." (Googles) Yup. It was <a href="http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/Silent-Hill.htm">for the film</a>, at least. Very impressive photograph. I have a feeling Centralia inspired the setting of the videogame “Silent Hill.”

(Googles)

Yup. It was for the film, at least.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519244 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519244 I've had that "Gates of Hell" photo as my desktop for about a year. I think it worries my cube-mate though... I’ve had that “Gates of Hell” photo as my desktop for about a year. I think it worries my cube-mate though…

]]> By: autark http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519500 autark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519500 I am planning a trip that will take me through Darvaza, among other things to document that flaming sink hole... as well as the sea of sand and ghost shipyards at Muynaq on the Aral Sea. The route *was* going to go through Iran... hopefully it will be safe for transit. I am planning a trip that will take me through Darvaza, among other things to document that flaming sink hole… as well as the sea of sand and ghost shipyards at Muynaq on the Aral Sea.

The route *was* going to go through Iran… hopefully it will be safe for transit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519756 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519756 Check out the documentary about the last remaining residents of Centralia, The Town That Was (www.thetownthatwas.com). Check out the documentary about the last remaining residents of Centralia, The Town That Was (www.thetownthatwas.com).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519253 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519253 These remind me of Gabon's naturally occurring fission reactor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklo bkd These remind me of Gabon’s naturally occurring fission reactor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklo

bkd

]]> By: VICTOR JIMENEZ http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519254 VICTOR JIMENEZ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519254 It seems that the server has being boingboinged to oblivion. But impressive photo indeed! It seems that the server has being boingboinged to oblivion.
But impressive photo indeed!

]]> By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519264 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519264 Cool. Like an active volcanic crater, but in the middle of a flat plain instead of the top of a mountain. Much more convenient for sacrificing virgins. Cool. Like an active volcanic crater, but in the middle of a flat plain instead of the top of a mountain. Much more convenient for sacrificing virgins.

]]> By: spicker http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519268 spicker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519268 There is a similar place in Turkey called Mount Chimaera. Allegedly it has burned for several thousand years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanarta%C5%9F There is a similar place in Turkey called Mount Chimaera. Allegedly it has burned for several thousand years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanarta%C5%9F

]]> By: prodigous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519285 prodigous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519285 There's one in Colorado that's about 100 years old. You can actually see spots where the heat, from the underground fire, melts snow in the winter. It sparked the big storm king mountain fire that killed 14 firefighters in 2002. There’s one in Colorado that’s about 100 years old. You can actually see spots where the heat, from the underground fire, melts snow in the winter. It sparked the big storm king mountain fire that killed 14 firefighters in 2002.

]]> By: cinemajay http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519287 cinemajay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519287 The Atlas Obscura website has been Boinged. The Atlas Obscura website has been Boinged.

]]> By: timquinn http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519803 timquinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519803 Please name our new baby Joe, So he'll grow up like big Joe. He'll work and he'll fight and he'll fix up the mines, So fire can't kill daddy no more. Dear sisters and brothers goodbye, Dear mother and father goodbye. My fingers are weak and I cannot write, Goodbye Centralia, goodbye. Lyrics: The Dying Miner, Woody Guthrie Please name our new baby Joe,
So he’ll grow up like big Joe.
He’ll work and he’ll fight and
he’ll fix up the mines,
So fire can’t kill daddy no more.

Dear sisters and brothers goodbye,
Dear mother and father goodbye.
My fingers are weak and I cannot write,
Goodbye Centralia, goodbye.

Lyrics: The Dying Miner, Woody Guthrie

]]> By: prodigous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519293 prodigous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519293 Hmmnn looks like there are over 30 of these coal seam fires in Colorado alone. http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Wildland-Firefighting/Colorado-Fire-Crews-Battle-Invisible-Foe-As-Underground-Coal-Seams-Smolder/4$38869 Hmmnn looks like there are over 30 of these coal seam fires in Colorado alone.
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Wildland-Firefighting/Colorado-Fire-Crews-Battle-Invisible-Foe-As-Underground-Coal-Seams-Smolder/4$38869

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519295 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519295 I'm sorry, but no Rodents of Unusual Size means none of these places qualify. Can't something be done? I’m sorry, but no Rodents of Unusual Size means none of these places qualify. Can’t something be done?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519304 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519304 cant it be used to make a powerplant on the spot :) cant it be used to make a powerplant on the spot :)

]]> By: RedShirt77 http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519563 RedShirt77 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519563 Can't we put a thermodynamic plant on top of these things? Can’t we put a thermodynamic plant on top of these things?

]]> By: Laroquod http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-522895 Laroquod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-522895 It's dismaying that a few hyperintelligent-yet-short-lived bits of dirt routinely start fires in their planet's crust that could last a thousand orbits, *by accident*. Imagine zapping into a universe in which someone could just trip at the wrong moment, and thus spark every river for miles to turn into perfectly transparent panes of glass for twenty generations, and you might have something approaching my level of panic here. http://extratemporal.blogspot.com/2009/06/tripping-at-wrong-moment.html It’s dismaying that a few hyperintelligent-yet-short-lived bits of dirt routinely start fires in their planet’s crust that could last a thousand orbits, *by accident*.

Imagine zapping into a universe in which someone could just trip at the wrong moment, and thus spark every river for miles to turn into perfectly transparent panes of glass for twenty generations, and you might have something approaching my level of panic here.

http://extratemporal.blogspot.com/2009/06/tripping-at-wrong-moment.html

]]> By: dbarak http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519312 dbarak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519312 Too bad they can't slide in water pipes to make steam to run power turbines. I'm guessing the temperatures might be too high for that, or maybe there are other reasons it's not practical. Too bad they can’t slide in water pipes to make steam to run power turbines. I’m guessing the temperatures might be too high for that, or maybe there are other reasons it’s not practical.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/06/16/giant-burning-holes.html#comment-519317 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-519317 Australia's Burning Mountain coal seam fire has been burning for an estimated 6,000 years and is the oldest coal seam fire in the world. Australia’s Burning Mountain coal seam fire has been burning for an estimated 6,000 years and is the oldest coal seam fire in the world.

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