Worth Flying For
THE FIERY SPEW OF RED-HOT LAVA and grey ash
has terrified humankind for centuries. This
Indonesian volcano, however, is known to evoke
awe and wonder among those who witness
its exceptional phenomenon. Unlike typical
volcanoes, the Kawah Ijen volcano—near the
eastern tip of Java island—emits bewitching
blue flames. A surreal turquoise coloured lake
surrounded by the rugged cascading mountains
adds to the mysticism of the place.
Travellers trek for around 90 minutes to
reach the top of the summit and get a closer
look. The peculiar blue light is emitted by thecombustion of the volcano’s sulphuric gases as
they come in contact with air. On condensation,
some of these gases turn into liquid sulphur that
flows down the mountainside, burning while
it does so and creating the illusion of a fiery
blue lava river. During the day, the blue flames
are difficult to see, but the turquoise lake in
the centre of the crater is the main attraction.
Filled with concentrated hydrochloric acid, this
crater lake is considered the world’s largest of its
kind. Due to the high levels of toxic gases in the
region, any activity including trekking involves
the use of masks. —BAYAR JAINKAWAH IJEN
EAST JAVA, INDONESIA
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