A gaping hole in Yemen's desert eastern landscape is a sight that amazes and intrigues locals. It is believed to be between "millions and millions" of years old.The Well of Barhout is a name given to those who live close to the hole. They believe that anything that gets too close to the Hell Pit will be taken in and trapped. In the imagination of the general public, the hole is a large figure. Yemeni legend says that there are "extinct tongues that fizz on cold nights" in the hole, which is a reference to whatever might lurking within it.The Well of Barhout, which is shrouded in mystery, is located in the Yemen desert near the border with Oman. The natural wonder known as "Well of Hell" is located in Al-Mahra. It measures 100 feet wide, and can reach 330 feet below the ground. However, some claim that it is as deep as 820 feet.No one has ever been to the bottom.A video crew from AFP flew a drone above the hole to capture stunning aerial footage. Despite the drone flying directly above the hole, and the camera lens pointed down, it was difficult to see the pit's depths because of the darkness.(Photo credit to AFP)According to Yemeni oral tradition, the well is described as "a prison for dark spirits, sheltered by unbearable smells that emanate from its intestines". Although geologists have recently visited the site, Yemeni officials claim they don't know what is down there."We went to the area and entered the well. We reached more than 50-60m (164-174ft) deep into the well. We found strange things in the well," Salah Babhair (director-general of Mahra’s geological survey, mineral resources authority) told AFP. "We also smelled strange things... It's a strange situation."Babhair said, "It is very deep - We've never reached this bottom, as there's no oxygen and no ventilation."Many people who have lived near the well describe a foul-smelling, toxic odor. Ammar Hashem Mohammed Olman, a soldier who served at a camp close to the well, described it as "uncontrollable." He also wrote that the smell reminded him of rotten eggs. The smell was so strong that I felt nauseated.Continue the storyThe well's edge is not visible as the sunlight doesn't reach very low down. According to AFP videographers, it's difficult to capture any footage when they are down there. However, different bird species can be seen flying in and outside the darkened space, despite the unpleasant stench.This part of Yemen experiences very hot and dry summers. However, there are occasionally thunderstorms above the mountains. The region doesn't get much rain, with the average highs in summer being in the 90s to the low 100s, and the normal highs for winter being in the 70s and the 80s.Over the centuries, stories of demons and other supernatural characters known as jinns and genies who live in the well circulated among the local population. For fear of bad luck, many residents are afraid to even talk about the hole.Babhair stated that the well has been around for "millions and billions" of years and that he is eager to continue learning more about it.These places need more research, study and investigation.Keep checking AccuWeather.com for updates and be sure to subscribe to AccuWeather Network on DirecTV and Verizon Fios.
