That's the surreal hue of Indonesia's Kawah Ijen Volcano, which glows with an otherworldly "blue lava" at night. Vote Now! The most famous of these ‘blue lava’ volcanoes is the Kawah Ijen crater in Indonesia. Incredibly, a volcanic complex in Indonesia that goes by the name of Kawah Ijen bucks this trend: When it erupts, its lava burns an iridescent blue. However, Kawah Ijen is just like any other volcano when it comes to the temperature of the lava. The Kawah Ijen Crater Hike starts in the parking lot and soon ascends at a nearly constant incline upwards for 2 hours until you reach to the crater rim sunrise viewing area. Close. But did you know that it’s where 51 million people call home as well? Terms of Use But because only the flames are blue, rather than the lava itself, the effect is only visible at night—during daytime, the volcano looks like roughly any other. "After several nights in the crater, we felt really living on another planet.". Constructing this tower was a major feat of engineering. Kawah Ijen is one of several volcanoes located within the 20 km wide Ijen Caldera in East Java, Indonesia. But come night, an awe-inspiring display of blue light rivals any natural phenomenon, as you can see in this video from Nick Uhas. The Ijen volcano complex has some of the highest levels of sulfur in the world. Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia erupted electric-blue fire, that trickles down the mountain slope at night attracting crowds of tourists and photographers. A brutal place to work in for miners, Kawah Ijen is also a popular tourist attraction All rights reserved. The place attracts local and worldwide tourists, who embark on a journey up the mountain to see the famous turquoise lake and the phenomenon called electric blue flames. Kawah Ijen Volcano Spews Surreal Blue Lava-Like Fire! READ!Photographer: Olivier GrunewaldThis volcano in Kawah Ijen has some spectacular blue lava by night, but shows red during the day. Ijen volcano is located in the eastern part of Java, in the direction of Bali. Ijen caldera is the largest in Java. I had succeeded and, on the way, I had seen and experienced some other breathtaking stuff . Kawah Ijen Volcano is a name that will make you fall in love with a deadly force of nature so much that you will literally want to take a dip into its molten brew of toxic chemicals burning at high temperature. Since National Geographic mentioned the electric-blue flame of Ijen, tourist numbers have increased. Kawah Ijen Volcano is one of the few locations on Earth where sulfur is still produced by artisanal miners. Kawah Ijen Guided Tours . In other words, the lava—molten rock that emerges from the Earth at ultra-high temperatures—isn't colored significantly differently than the lava at other volcanoes, which all differ slightly based on their mineral composition but appear a bright red or orange color in their molten state. Today, The Explorers Club, a non-profit world leader in exploration, and Discovery Channel announced the first class of awardees to receive approximately a quarter of a million dollars collectively to fund their expeditions. ", Just 30 nights in the crater, distributed over six trips, were enough to show Grunewald how destructive the environment of these mines can be. Notwithstanding, there is one fountain of liquid magma that has a notoriety that outperforms all others, Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen well of lava also called the blue spring of gushing lava. The scientific story is as fascinating as the images. The effect is caused by the fact that the lava emerges alongside super-hot, high-pressure sulfuric gases. The one-of-a-kind blue color associated with the lava flows on Kawah Ijen volcano is not, as you might think, due to blue-colored lava. Grunewald and Etienne produced the documentary partly to bring attention to these harsh working conditions. But the beautiful phenomenon also reveals a dark secret. That's the surreal hue of Indonesia's Kawah Ijen Volcano, which glows with an otherworldly "blue lava" at night.The mountain contains large amounts of pure sulfur, which emits an icy violet color as it burns, turning the rocky slopes into a hot (at least 239 degrees Fahrenheit), highly toxic environment. Apparently, this is the largest highly acidic crater lake in the world. My Ijen Blue Fire Travelogue Blue Sunday. The work isn't just hard; it's hazardous. Adventure into Victorian England with rickety bridges and vertical climbs across a 19th-century mine. A Paris-based photographer, Olivier Grunewald, who has been documenting the fascinating Kawah Ijen volcano over several years said that the blue glow isn't lava. Grunewald estimates that these nighttime miners can mine and carry between 80 to 100 kilos over the course of twelve hours of work—about $5 to $6. The Kawah Ijen blue fire volcano became a non-negotiable part of my Indonesia trip the moment I learned of its existence—largely, I’m not ashamed to admit, because my favorite color is blue. California Do Not Sell My Info "During my first trip, I lost a camera and two lenses that had been corroded by acid," he says. Kawah Ijen Crater Lake. Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen volcano spews out blue lava thanks to its incredibly high levels of sulfur. Red Lava, Blue Flame. The one-of-a-kind blue color associated with the lava flows on Kawah Ijen volcano is not, as you might think, due to blue-colored lava. Be very careful not to get too close to the flames. And what a beautiful planet it is! These miners extract sulfuric rock—formed after the blue flames have gone out and the sulfur gas has cooled and combined with the lava to form solidified rock—for use in the food and chemical industries. Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia erupted with electric blue lava at night. Spectacular Neon Blue Lava Pours From Indonesia's Kawah Ijen Volcano At Night (PHOTOS) You've heard of "red hot" and "white hot" to describe searing temperatures. But at Kawah Ijen, extremely high quantities of sulfuric gases emerge at high pressures and temperatures (sometimes in excess of 600°C) along with the lava. Kawah Ijen Volcano is a name that will make you fall in love with a deadly force of nature so much that you will literally want to take a dip into its molten brew of toxic chemicals burning at high temperature. Before you reach the viewing area though, you will have the option to hike down to the bottom of the crater to better see the famous blue flames. Keep up-to-date on: © 2021 Smithsonian Magazine. When it comes to guides, several Indonesian companies offer tours, but the best way to go about seeing the blue fire of Kawah Ijen volcano is to hire a local guide. Blue Flames and a Blue Acid Lake. Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. The phenomenon has occurred for a long time, but beforehand there was no midnight hiking. Le Kawah Ijen se situe en Indonésie, à l'extrême Est de l'île de Java, dans la province de Java oriental et dans le Sud-Est de la caldeira de Kendeng du volcan Ijen, adossé au flanc ouest du Merapi, le point culminant de ce massif volcanique à ne pas confondre avec l'autre volcan Merapi de l'île de Java2,3. The lava on Kawah Ijen is red hot, like any other lava elsewhere. Take a look. Can You Spread Covid-19 After Getting Vaccinated? Science shows that blue is the hottest color. The miners — both adults and children — spend the day in the heat loading cooled sulfuric rock into baskets, then carrying them nearly two miles to collect their daily payment, which is normally less than $10 even after 12 hours of work. "After we got back home, it took up to three weeks for our skin to lose the smell of sulfur.". Grunewald first heard about the phenomenon from Etienne, who visited the volcano in 2008 with an Indonesian guide. You have until dawn to see the flames, but to be safe be sure you’re at the crater by 5am. Shooting these striking photos—some taken just a few feet away from the flames—was far more physically demanding than most of Grunewald's previous projects of landscapes and wildlife. Olivier Grunewald, a Paris-based photographer, who has been recording the stunning Kawah Ijen volcano over several years said that the blue glow is not lava but light produced when the sulfuric gases from volcanic cracks come in contact with the oxygen-rich atmosphere, resulting in a blue flame. If you haven't seen any of the footage yet, it's worth taking a look. But at Kawah Ijen, extremely high quantities of sulfuric gases emerge at high pressures and temperatures (sometimes in excess of 600°C) along with the lava. Let’s meet The Explorers Club Discovery Grant awardees. Kawah Ijen is a basaltic-andesite to dacitic stratovolcano located in the Banyuwangi Regency of East Java. A Paris-based photographer, Olivier Grunewald, who has been documenting the fascinating Kawah Ijen volcano over several years said that the blue glow isn't lava. Some of the workers are children, seeking to support their families by any means possible. The volcano, called Kawah Ijen, erupts blue lava. The molten rock flowing from the volcano is the same as any other: it glows with bright red, yellow, and orange hues. Kawah Ijen is an extremely rare volcano that actually erupts electric blue flames from its crater. The Mystery of Blue Lava and the Kawah Ijen Volcano. Kawah Ijen Blue Flame. "The main problem was the acidic gases that whirled constantly in the crater," he says. © 2021 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. This one is surrounded in smoke and it’s easy to believe it’s blue lava oozing up from the planets … Give a Gift. Kawah Ijen is one of several volcanoes located within the 20 km wide Ijen Caldera in East Java, Indonesia. This amazing cave also houses an impressive eco-system. It is a 2-hour hike to the rim of the volcano, followed by a 45-minute hike down to the caldera. The blue flame begins to flicker and die, but a new one pops up and it’s only meters away. Indonesia's Kawah Ijen volcano is stunning. One highly-recommend guide is Sam from Ijen Expedition, a young man who resides in the Taman Sari township at the base of the volcano. "This blue glow, unusual for a volcano, isn't the lava itself, as unfortunately can be read on many websites," Grunewald says. Blue Flame Ijen Crater Volcano is one of the wonder of the world that appears all night inside of Ijen Volcano, Most visitors enjoy the beauty of Blue Flame Kawah Ijen for their photography. A brutal place to work in for miners, Kawah Ijen is also a popular tourist attraction The scientific story is as fascinating as the images. Share on Facebook Located in East Java, Indonesia is a volcano that spews blue colored flames. It represents the only remaining active volcano on the Ijen Caldera Complex and has a long history of eruptions, the last of which took place in 1999. Be prepared to be wowed by this unique island country. 17th Annual Photo Contest Finalists Announced. ... which is why so many people believe it to be lava. The blue fire is ignited sulphuric gas, which emerges from cracks with temperatures up to 600°С. Continue Exposed to the oxygen present in air and sparked by lava, the sulfur burns readily, and its flames are bright blue. Forget Chile’s Atacama Desert, or Hawaii’s Mauna Kea. In a country where the median daily income is about $13, many work overnight to supplement their income. Snapped during shooting of a new documentary he's releasing with the president of Geneva's Society for Volcanology, Régis Etienne, the photos—taken without the aid of any filter or digital enhancement—showcase the volcano's amazing electric blue glow. Kawah Ijen Guided Tours . After being shown Etienne's photo featuring a child miner's silhouette surrounded by the blue glow, he was struck by the idea of photographing the mountain's sulfur miners working at night. "This blue glow, unusual for a volcano, isn't the lava itself, as unfortunately can be read on many websites," Grunewald says. | by Olivier Grunewald [2048 × 1362] Dallol vulcano, Ethiopia. How to get to Kawah Ijen & Mount Ijen Crater Blue Fire Tour Privacy Statement There are many lakes in the world, which have some mystery in themselves. To make Kawah Ijen even more unique is the gorgeous turquoise waters of the Kawah Ijen Crater Lake at the top of the volcano. The caldera of Kawah Ijen harbors a kilometer-wide, turquoise colored, acidic crater lake that leaks sulphurous gases constantly. Is This Mars-like Desert the World’s Best Spot to Watch the Stars? Exposed to the oxygen present in air and sparked by lava, the sulfur burns readily, and its flames are bright blue. Read more: A Guide to Hiking Kawah Ijen Volcano . Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia erupted with electric blue lava at night. – Ijen blue lava, there really is nothing like it! This mainstream complex is arranged inside Ijen hole with strato volcano Gunung Merapi as the most noteworthy point. BLUE FIRE IJEN VOLCANO JAVA INDONESIA, Kawah Ijen Blue Lava Phenomenon, Blue Fire In The World. It's a phenomenon unlike most other volcanoes on the planet, but you can uncover its mysteries with a little science. A coincidence of low wages and a small local demand for native sulfur supports artisanal mining at Kawah Ijen. The molten rock flowing from the volcano is the same as any other: it glows with bright red, yellow, and orange hues. Kawah Ijen is the crater of an active volcano on the island of Java, Indonesia. Kawah Ijen is a stunning volcano located on the island of Java, Indonesia that shoots out fire, lava, and electric blue gasses. There are many lakes in the world, which have some mystery in themselves. They're also a place where miners come to collect sulfuric rock. Today, most of the world's sulfur is produced as a byproduct of oil refining and natural gas processing. The one-of-a-kind blue color associated with the lava flows on Kawah Ijen volcano is not, as you...[+] might think, due to blue-colored lava. Though there's a fair share of tourism to the site, the volcanos and craters are not just a tourist destination. Once the sun begins to rise, you can take in the beauty of the turquoise crater lake. Kawah Ijen Volcano Spews Surreal Blue Lava-Like Fire! There's so much sulfur, Grunewald says, that at times it flows down the rock face as it burns, making it seem as though blue lava is spilling down the mountainside. But come night, an awe-inspiring display of blue light rivals any natural phenomenon, as you can see in this video from Nick Uhas.