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The last group of people you would think would consider that there could be gates to hell in this world are scientists. However, they have studied several locations across the globe, together with historians, to find out which locations are often associated with the underworld.
Scientists have helped find real places that match the descriptions of people of what they think the gates of hell would look and feel like. According to the famous ancient beliefs, if the gates of hell are true, they should be in one or a few of these locations.
Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan – The Door to Hell
This massive Crater in the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan, was created by the soviets in the 1970s, but back then, there was no fire. It was just a drilling operation, but when something went wrong and the ground collapsed, they intentionally set it on fire to prevent methane gases from escaping.
They thought the fire would last a few days, but 50 years later, this massive crater in the middle of the desert is still burning, earning a nickname, the “Door to Hell”.
Scientists then looked further as to why it was still continually burning, and they detected that toxic gases and fire-prone substances were being emitted from underground, which is causing the continuous fire, from one ignition event over 50 years ago.
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Gehenna, Israel – The Valley of Fire
Just outside Jerusalem lies the Valley of Hinnom, also known as Gehenna, where people who lived there in ancient times are rumored to have performed child sacrifices. It was also considered a garbage dump and has had a horrific reputation for all the people living in the area.
There have been continuous fires on this land throughout several ages, and it has become a symbol of eternal damnation in both Christian and Jewish teachings. Today, it is a normal, quiet park, but scientists think it matches people’s descriptions of hell, especially in its early ages.
Read more: New York Post
Pluto’s Gate, Turkey – Deadly Ancient Cave
In ancient Hierapolis, priests would bring various animals into this cave in Turkey. It is a stone temple dedicated to one of their gods, Pluto. Then the animals died instantly, while the priests survived, making it look like throughout history that it is a real sacrificial place where the gates of hell are located.
But modern researchers have found out recently that this cave emits concentrated carbon dioxide from deep underground, affecting mainly animals. Even today, if they approached too close, they could collapse and eventually perish on the spot.
Read more: The Sun
Mount Hekla, Iceland – The Fiery Mountain Once Feared as Hell’s Gate
Mount Hekla has erupted countless times during the past 900 years; it was cemented in history to be a place most likely to be a gateway to hell. During medieval times, people across Europe called it the “Gateway of the Damned” or “the prison of Judas”.
Scientists and historians agreed that those nicknames were created because of their powerful eruptions and molten flows that were unlike so many volcanoes in the area. It could be so violent that the dark smoke clouds cover the sky as the burning, bright lava flows, making it one of the top locations to be called a gate to hell.
Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize — A Cave Where the Maya Met the Dead
The Maya are a group of people who believed that this dark cave in the jungles of Belize led directly to Xibalba, the world of the dead. Just like many other groups, they sacrificed their children during ceremonies to contact the Gods of the underworld to ask for favors or repent.
Scientists to this day have been discovering various skeletons of people, including children, in the cave. Because of its location, history, and reputation, it was one of the places associated with being a gateway to hell.
Author's Final Thoughts
Whether it’s ancient fire pits, gas-spewing caves, or spiritual sites that saw the sacrifice of people, including children, these locations blur the line between mythological hell and real-life hell. Scientists have explained the majority of these phenomena while considering their history; however, hell might not be a place underground, maybe it could also be inside our imaginations and the darkest corners of human history, where fear, brutal beliefs, and reality all collide.
Read more: Scientists Say Mini Black Holes Could Be Inside Your Home
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