The Eternal Flames of Turkey: Burning for 2,500 Years!
Imagine a place where fires have burned non-stop for at least 2,500 years! This isn’t a myth, it’s Yanartas, or “burning rock,” in southwestern Turkey, and its eternal flames have inspired legends, including the fire-breathing monster Chimera from Homer’s Iliad. Locals even believe it’s the monster’s buried breath!
The Scientific Mystery:
While the flames are actually methane gas leaking from underground fissures, the real puzzle was how they ignited and kept burning for millennia. Scientists, led by Giuseppe Etiope, now believe a rare metal called Ruthenium might be the key!
