Throughout history, certain locations have gained eerie reputations as portals to the underworld. These places, steeped in legend and myth, often have terrifying histories that contribute to their status as the gates to hell. Whether due to natural phenomena, ancient rituals, or religious beliefs, these sites continue to fascinate and unsettle those who visit them. Here are five of the most infamous locations believed to be gateways to the underworld.
1. Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize – The Maya’s Portal to the Underworld
Deep within the jungles of Belize, the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave—also known as the “Cave of the Stone Sepulcher”—holds the secrets of an ancient civilization’s terrifying beliefs about the afterlife. The Maya believed that caves were portals to Xibalba, their version of the underworld, where gods of death and disease ruled over a treacherous domain. This particular cave was used for sacrificial rituals, meant to appease these deities and stave off disaster.
Inside, archaeologists have discovered skeletal remains of individuals sacrificed to the gods. The most famous of these is the “Crystal Maiden,” a young woman whose bones have calcified over time, making them glisten eerily in the darkness. Many of the skeletons bear evidence of violent deaths, reinforcing the cave’s grim history. Even today, the cave remains shrouded in mystery and legend, making it one of the most chilling gates to hell in the world.
2. Mount Hekla, Iceland – The Volcano That Spits Out Souls
Mount Hekla is one of Iceland’s most active and feared volcanoes, having erupted over 20 times since its first recorded explosion in 1104. For medieval Europeans, this fiery mountain was more than just a natural wonder—it was believed to be an actual entrance to hell. The frequent, violent eruptions and the ominous, smoke-covered landscape led many to believe that the souls of the damned were being spewed out from its depths.
Icelandic folklore is filled with eerie tales of spirits and demons lurking around Hekla. Some legends say witches ride their broomsticks to Hekla on Easter, while others claim that souls trapped in purgatory can be heard wailing from beneath the lava flows. Even as scientific understanding has advanced, Mount Hekla retains its ominous aura, making it one of the world’s most famous gates to hell. Travelers and scientists alike remain in awe of this powerful force of nature, never knowing when it might erupt again.
3. Gehenna, Israel – A Valley of Fire and Damnation
Gehenna, also known as the Valley of Hinnom, is an ancient valley located just outside the old city of Jerusalem. Its name has been synonymous with hellfire for centuries, and it plays a crucial role in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. People once performed horrifying rituals in the valley, sacrificing children by fire to the Canaanite god Moloch. Biblical texts condemned this gruesome practice, marking the valley as a place of eternal punishment.
By the time of the New Testament, Gehenna had transformed into a metaphor for hell itself, representing a place of unquenchable fire and suffering. The city later turned the valley into a garbage dump, continuously burning refuse, including animal carcasses and criminals’ bodies. This ever-present fire reinforced its grim reputation as one of the gates to hell in religious tradition. Today, Gehenna is a peaceful park, but its dark past continues to give it an eerie reputation.
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4. St. Patrick’s Purgatory, Ireland – A Gateway to the Afterlife
St. Patrick’s Purgatory, located on Station Island in Lough Derg, Ireland, has been a site of religious pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. According to legend, St. Patrick himself was led to a cave on the island where Christ revealed a vision of purgatory. This sacred place became known as a real-world passage to the afterlife, where the faithful could undergo intense fasting and prayer to experience the suffering of purgatory while still alive.
During the medieval period, pilgrims traveled from across Europe to endure the harsh conditions at St. Patrick’s Purgatory. Some believed that if they stayed long enough and repented fully, they would earn a direct path to heaven. Although authorities sealed the original cave long ago, the island continues to attract pilgrims who seek its reputation as a spiritual portal. The eerie history and deep religious significance have cemented its place as one of the world’s gates to hell.
5. Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan – A Fiery Abyss in the Desert
Perhaps the most visually striking of all these sites, the Darvaza Gas Crater—also known as the “Door to Hell”—is a massive burning pit in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan. The story of its creation dates back to 1971 when Soviet geologists accidentally drilled into a massive underground natural gas cavern. The ground collapsed, forming a crater about 70 meters wide. Fearing the release of toxic gases, the scientists set the hole on fire, assuming it would burn out within a few weeks. Over 50 years later, the flames are still burning.
This continuously burning pit has captured global attention, with its hellish glow visible for miles at night. Despite its man-made origins, the crater’s fiery depths have led many to associate it with the underworld. Some believe it is a warning sign from nature, while others are simply in awe of its unrelenting blaze. As one of the most famous gates to hell, the Darvaza Gas Crater remains a mesmerizing and unsettling wonder.
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Conclusion
Whether created by nature, shaped by religious belief, or the result of human error, these five locations have become infamous as gates to hell. They remind us of the power of myth, the terror of the unknown, and humanity’s long-standing fascination with the concept of an underworld. Whether you believe in the legends or not, there’s no denying that these places have eerie, captivating histories that continue to intrigue and unsettle those who hear their stories. Would you dare to visit any of them?