The “bottom of Hell” in Yemen... a mysterious hole around which the legends of the jinn hover
Mystery surrounds the Barhout Well in eastern Yemen, as many stories and legends circulate about it being inhabited by jinn, as not much is known about this deep hole.
About 1,300 km east of the capital, Sanaa, near the border with the Sultanate of Oman, Bir Barhout is located in the desert of Al-Mahra Governorate.
It is believed that the depth of the giant crater ranges between 100 and 250 meters and its width is 30 meters.
Yemenis have always passed a legend that the well is a prison for the jinn, and the residents also call it “the bottom of Hell.”
The well is known for its foul smell coming out of its depths.
Yemeni officials simply point out that they do not know what is at the bottom of the well.
"We visited the site and reached a depth of more than 50-60 meters from the well," said Salah Babhair, director of the Geological Survey and Mineral Resources Authority.
We noticed inside it strange things and smells that we did not know what it was,” describing the situation there as “strange.”
"We did not reach a greater depth due to the lack of oxygen and the lack of ventilation at that site," he added.
The sun's light does not reach the bottom of the hole, and from the edge of it, only some birds can be seen.
Videographers trying to capture footage of the well's interior say it's nearly impossible to get hold of.
The majority of the population fears approaching the well because of the legends surrounding it.
Over the centuries, many have transmitted stories indicating the presence of the jinn in them, and it was believed that they pose a danger above the earth, and may swallow everything that approaches them.
Many people even avoid talking about this mysterious crater for fear of harming them.
Babhair said, "It is of course required to study these areas, research and investigate them, and reach the depths of the well," whose age is estimated at "millions and millions of years."
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