Kawah Ijen volcano that spits blue flames

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen is one of several volcanoes located within 20 km wide Ijen Caldera, in east Java, Indonesia. Kawah Ijen boiler housed in a kilometer wide crater lake of acid turquoise constantly filtering sulphurous gases. At night, the hot gases are burned to emit an eerie blue glow that is unique in Kawah Ijen. Gases exit cracks volcano at high pressure and temperature, which Ilagan to 600 ยบ C, and when in contact with air, light them, sending flames up to 16 meters high. Some of the gases are condensed in liquid nitrogen and continue to burn as it flows down the slopes giving the sensation of blue lava flowing.

The Kawah Ijen sulfur gas are also extracted by sulfur. Volcanic gases are trapped by local miners and channeled through a network of ceramic pipes, resulting in condensation of molten sulfur. The sulfur, which is deep red in color when molten, pours slowly from the ends of these pipes and pools on the floor turning a bright yellow when cooled. The miners break the cooled material into chunks in baskets and carry it to a nearby refinery. A worker can earn up to $ 13 per day this way.

Kawah Ijen volcano

The workers work in extremely dangerous conditions with inadequate protection. Most of them suffer from various respiratory problems due to inhalation of toxic fumes daily. Sometimes they work at night to escape the heat of the sun, and to earn extra income. These images were captured by photographer Olivier Grunewald, who lost two lenses and a camera due to sulfide corrosion in trying to capture the mysterious images.

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano

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