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| While two OCET team members managed the ropes at the surface, five others rapelled into the sinkhole. COURTESY MOHAMMED AL-KINDI |
An investigation has been launched into a mysterious cave known as the 'Gate of Hell'. It is also known as the well of hell, this deep cave is located in Yemen. For the first time a study team has entered into the cave to find out the secret of it. Considered as a natural wonder, this cave is about 30 meters wide and 112 meters deep. The locals have been living away from this cave for a long time. Its mouth is small but wide inside. And water is dripping into the base, becoming a pearl. The overall color of the cave, which looks like frozen green algae, is gray.
Local folklore says that it was built as a prison for demons. The strong smell that arose from it strengthened their superstitions. Most locals believe that even mentioning this well in words is tantamount to voicing one's misfortune. And stories are woven about the presence of evil spirits in the cave. The stories and fears are reinforced by the stench and toxic odors that arise from its depths.
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| The entrance to the “cursed” sinkhole is 98 feet in diameter. AFP / GETTY IMAGES |
Yemeni officials said they did not know what was going on below. "It's very deep - we never got to the bottom of this well, because there's no oxygen and no ventilation," said Salah Babhir, director general of the Mehra Geological Survey and Mineral Resources Authority. We went to visit the area and entered the well, reached a depth of more than 50-60 meters, then we noticed strange things inside and we headed back.
Recently a team of 10 explorers from the Omani Caves Exploration Team (OCET) explored the Well of Barhout using a pulley system that lowered eight of the members to the bottom while the remaining two stayed at the top. A small crowd of intrepid spectators gathered to watch the event, despite local fears surrounding the sinkhole. A video of the explorers descending into the cave was shared by the BBC.
Al-Kindi estimates the sinkhole could be several million years old, but its origin, too, is the subject of local legend. One legend says an ancient king forced Jinn to carve the "well" as a place to hide his treasure. In others, the well has always served to contain evil, uncontrollable jinn.