The oldest and longest-burning coal seam fire in the world is the "Burning Mountain" located in New South Wales, Australia. It has been burning for an estimated 6,000 years. The fire is a coal seam fire, meaning it's smoldering underground, not a typical flame-based fire.
The scientific explanation for Burning Mountain is a slowly combusting coal seam. At the moment, the exact location of the fire is a mystery, though we know it's about 30m below the ground and heading south – meaning Burning Mountain actually moves at about 1m a year.
It’s estimated the fire has been burning for as much as 5,500 years, and as it eats through the coal, rocks slip into the gap, causing fissures and slumping at the surface level. Be sure to wear sturdy footwear and stay on the formed track. Not only that, but watch out for fossils, too: 200 million years ago, this entire area was covered by ocean.
