Eternal, Infernal Flame

A devastating underground fire deep within the coal deposits of Pennsylvania has been burning for 57 years. Started by accident, it grew into a monstrosity that drove an entire town into oblivion.

The Centralia Mine Fire is one of mining's longest-lived catastrophes, and it provides yet another example of greed and poor decision-making gone horribly, irreversibly wrong. It's such a unique, disturbing place that it was even the inspiration for the Silent Hill series of video games and movies.