Independent ascent to the Java volcanoes. Ijen volcanic complex, Java, Indonesia. Ijen - a volcano with blue lava

We planned our five-day trip to Java back in Moscow, in February, when we bought plane tickets. The difficulty was that they usually travel through Java starting from Yogyakarta towards the ferry to Bali, visiting temples and volcanoes along the way, but our route was exactly the opposite. And so, the plan turned out like this: get to the ferry from Bali to Java, swim across the strait and first of all visit the Ijen volcano. Next we wanted to see the panorama of Bromo volcano, and from there go to Yogyakarta to the Borbodur and Prambanan temples. And then from Jogja take a plane back to Bali. Everything seems simple, but apart from the purchased plane ticket from Java to Bali, we had a vague idea of movements along the rest of the route.

Now that I am writing this post, having traveled along the entire route, we already know how it could have been done somewhere cheaper, and somewhere more comfortable. But what’s done is done, and I’m glad that everything turned out this way! But I’ll still write to you about alternative travel options.

If you decide to get to Java by ferry, then it’s enough budget option will buy a bus ticket to the ferry in Denpasar. Some buses also load onto the ferry, but I don’t know exactly where they go afterwards. In Java, near the port of Ketapang, you can take a taxi to Ijen. Our friend, a guide in Bali named Whiskey, said that the price of such a move would be approximately 350 thousand rupees (about $40). Since we didn’t want to go early in the morning from Kuta to Denpasar and run around looking for where to buy something, it was decided to take a car with a driver. The route from Kuta to the port of Gilimanuk will cost about 400 thousand rupees. The price of a ferry to Java for a car is 100 thousand rupees ($10), and even less for people. Now you will understand why I am writing all this)))
Being in a normal Balinese “relaxed” state, we put off searching for a driver until the last minute. As a result, the evening before departure we bought a tour at a regular tourist office in Kuta. We bargained for a long time and agreed that for 1,300,000 rupees we would be taken to one of the hotels on the slopes of Ijen. No matter how hard it is to calculate, we, of course, overpaid. I don’t know why we didn’t turn to Whiskey, I think it would have been cheaper. But as they say in Bali: that means it must be so))
At 6.30 in the morning the car was near our house, and our phone was ringing every two minutes, asking where we were and when we would get out! We got out, and it turned out that in addition to the driver, our friend, who was selling the trip last evening, would be going with us! We asked what he was doing here, it turned out that the driver did not know the way to the volcano. This is certainly not true, but it’s more fun together! Get in the car and let's go!
At about 10 o'clock we were already in the port of Gilimanuk. In this place there is a very small strait between the islands, and a picturesque view of Java opens up.

O. Java, view from. Bali port Gilimanuk

Since we woke up very early and didn’t have time to have breakfast before leaving, we were really hungry. You know, in general I love rice and chicken, and all sorts of nasi goreng from local cuisine I like them, but the hardest thing about our entire trip to Java was that apart from this we ate practically nothing else. Even for breakfast! And another feature of any Asian cuisine is spicy food. And so I spend a long time explaining to the lady in the warung (local cafe) that you don’t need to spice it up at all, so that not a bit, but in the end I get my noodles, which it’s impossible to eat without tears, guess why... Dima ate fried rice with vegetables and he didn’t seem to be that spicy, lucky!
After breakfast we boarded the ferry and moved along the strait to Java. During this move I was once again amazed and greatly saddened great amount garbage in the ocean.
After the ferry we headed towards Ijen. Dima has a navigator on his phone, but the route along which our friends took us was not marked there; the picture showed that we were driving straight through the jungle. And soon the Internet disappeared completely, so if you come here on your own, save the map for yourself, or print it out just in case!
Previously, the road along which we were traveling was accessible only by jeep, but now it has been put in order, asphalt has been laid and it can be driven by any vehicle. Our car had difficulty climbing the steep hills, so we drove quite slowly and for a long time, but at least we managed to take in the beauty around us!

Along the way we passed the place where the climb to the volcano begins. We got lost a couple of times, which is strange, since there is only one road and it diverges only once. In the mountains near Ijen there are many checkpoints, passing which Dima wrote down in his visit notebook every time.
About half an hour's drive from Ijen there are two small hotels: Arabika Homestay and Catimor Homestay; in our opinion, these are the best options for accommodation.

I think the difference between them is small, Katimor seems to be more expensive and we chose Arabica. We arrived at the hotel, it turned out to be almost empty and we decided that this would help us reduce the price of housing. The hotel has three room options: economy with amenities in the courtyard, standard shower and toilet in the room, and the so-called VIP rooms, which are a little more well-kept than standard and with a TV. The male administrator announced the prices to us and we went to look at the rooms. We were choosing between standard and VIP, the standard rooms look pretty deplorable, but the VIP doesn’t particularly shine with comfort. We decided to take VIP, lowering the price a little, BUT... After viewing, the price suddenly changed, of course upwards, as if due to ignorance of English, the administrator made a mistake in the numbers! As a result, the prices were as follows: an economy room was 150 thousand rupees ($17), but we did not consider it, a standard room was 250 thousand rupees ($28) and a VIP room cost 350 thousand ($39). All our attempts to reduce the price did not work. As we later realized this, firstly due to the lack of competition and secondly from full confidence that even with this price all the rooms would be occupied, which is what happened in the end! We took Standart room, in general, it will do for an overnight stay.
The next thing was to find transport to get to Ijen and find out how to then leave this wilderness towards the Bromo volcano.
With the first point, everything was decided quickly; we were offered a bike for 150 thousand rupees ($16), although usually a bike for a day costs 50 thousand) Just like with housing, they flatly refused to bargain. Although they offered to take a bike for 100 thousand but with a driver, that is, it would be 2 bikes! Here's the math: transport with a driver is cheaper than transport without one :)
But the road from this village was not so easy. The simplest option of taking a driver with a car was no longer available, since no one here has a car. We were told that we could leave early in the morning by bus to one of the cities at the foot of the mountains, and then look for a way to go further, and that’s where we stopped.
Having found out everything, we had lunch with fried rice and chicken, drank tea, which by the way is free here at any time, and went to explore the road to Ijen.
As I already wrote, there is only one road here, but we decided that it was better to drive along it while it was light, so that it would be easier to navigate at night. And they brought us an old bike, Dima had to change the speed himself, he had to get used to it. Along the way we discovered a huge number beautiful views. The tops of the mountains and coffee plantations on their slopes, clouds floating between the rocks, at every turn I wanted to stop and photograph these open spaces.

It was getting close to evening, and since we were high in the mountains it became noticeably colder. We started heading back to the hotel and enjoyed a beautiful sunset along the way!

In the village of Sempol, where our hotel is located, there is small area near the mosque, they sell all sorts of things here. If you haven’t prepared warm clothes for the climb, here you can buy pants and a jacket, cookies and water for the trip. We bought Dima sweatpants and some food.
At the hotel, after asking one of the administrators what time was best to leave in order to have time to see the blue fire burning in the crater, we made a trip plan.
We calculate something like this: dawn in this part of Java begins at about 4.30 in the morning, that is, at 4 exactly (or better a little earlier in order to have time to descend into the crater) you need to be at the top. It takes 1.5 hours to climb, which means we start from the foot at 2.30. The road from the hotel to the starting point of the trek takes about 40 minutes, which means you need to leave the hotel at 1.30 with a small margin. We get up at one in the morning, I usually go to bed at this time :) But since we got up early in the morning, we were tired from a long day, and there wasn’t much to do here when it got dark, after having a snack and packing our things, we quickly fell asleep.
And now the moment of X has arrived! We woke up, drank a cup of tea, dressed warmly, grabbed a warm hotel blanket so as not to freeze at the top, and began our journey to Ijen.
The first difficulty was not long in coming. Dew fell at night, our bike apparently became damp, cooled down and refused to start. Dima used the starter pedal. Several attempts to start our jalopy with its help were unsuccessful, we tried to push it, this also did not help. We returned to the pedal, Dima pressed on it with all his might, his foot slipped and he ran into the edge of the pedal. I severely cut the sole of my foot, but we still have a mountain to climb! Luckily for us, the bike soon started up and we rode along the night road, wrapped in raincoats against the cold.
Then everything went according to plan and after about 40 minutes we were at the starting point. We saw a light in a small house and drove up to it, a man came out to meet us and suggested where we could park the bike. He agreed to be our guide. For this we paid him 150 thousand rupees. I’ll say right away that he would have gone for 100, or maybe less, if you had to bargain on principle, but we decided to agree.
It is worth noting here that some time ago, due to increased activity of the volcano, official tracking to it was closed. Because of this, tickets are not sold here, there are no special guides, ours turned out to be a sulfur miner! Of course, you can go up there yourself, many people do this during the day, but don’t forget that this is an active volcano, and it’s still night here, besides, it’s better if there’s a person nearby who knows the terrain well!
In Moscow, preparing for the trip, we bought headlamps, but that night we were lucky with the moon, it was almost full and illuminated everything around well! The road here is wide and well compacted. The climb is not steep due to the fact that the path winds horizontally along the slope, and does not go straight to the top. But because of this, the path becomes longer, although this is not scary. At that moment I decided that this was my easiest trekking! But, looking ahead a little, I will say that after a few days on Bromo volcano I learned that it can be even easier!
We reached the summit on schedule, overtaking a couple of groups of tourists on the way. And here in front of us is the black abyss of the crater, and at its bottom there is a blue fire burning, or as everyone here says Blue Fire!

Blue Fire, Ijen Volcano, o. Java

If you look closely, you can see small people in the photo, and the scale of this fire is immediately clear. A stunning sight! Fire can only be seen while it is dark; in daylight, only smoke is visible. There is also a lake at the bottom of the crater. When it is light, it is an incredible light green color, and due to the large amount of sulfur, its acidity is increased. Some write that the lake is filled with sulfuric acid, but this is not entirely true, for example, I washed my hands there. The water in it was quite hot.
Then we began to descend into the crater, it was gradually dawning and incredibly cosmic views opened up.

Crater of Ijen volcano, o. Java

The descent to the bottom is quite steep and winding, and every now and then sulfur miners come along with their baskets loaded to capacity. Hell of a job!

Sulfur miner, Ijen volcano

And here we are below, shocked by what we see around us. I won’t even try to describe the views of the crater in words, just look at the photos!
Our guide began to tell us how sulfur is mined.
Volcanic gases come out of the holes in the mountain, which actually burn. Huge ceramic pipes are laid here, in which condensate and sulfur vapors settle.

Thanks to the high temperature, almost 250° C, the sulfur that gets into the pipe does not solidify, but flows out. At first it is fiery red in color, when it cools it becomes amber transparent, and after a while it turns bright yellow.

Sulfur accumulation, Ijen volcano

It is normal to breathe due to gases and vapors at the bottom of the crater it was not possible. It smells very strongly of sulfur, and after a while the throat begins to sore and a cough appears. We knew about this and, again, bought good respiratory masks in Moscow in advance. But those who work there do not have such luxury, and you can easily guess how such work affects the health of the miners! At the end of the hike, we, of course, gave one of our masks to our guide. And this is what Dima looked like.

After the sulfur has cooled, it is collected and placed in baskets. Their weight on average ranges from 70 to 90 kg! And then on their hump they drag it all, first to the top of the crater, and then down.

Meanwhile it became quite light and we approached the lake. It literally hypnotized us, it felt like we were on another planet!

Volcanic sulfur lake, Ijen, Java

It was time to return, our guide asked if we would mind if he grabbed a basket of sulfur along the way, of course, we didn’t mind.

Sulfur miner and part-time guide

Dima decided to help our friend and took one of the baskets. But he didn't go far! If you look closely, you will see the inscription PLAY BOY on the baskets. It's nice to see that even in such difficult conditions, people do not lose their sense of humor, joke, tease each other and laugh. In general, they don’t lose heart.
Our friend picked up the basket and walked quite briskly along the rocky slope. At that moment I realized that my work is just an eternal vacation!

I followed him, with a blanket to spare.

And behind me is Dima. I think he was upset that he was going without a basket;)

Crater of Ijen volcano, o. Java

On the way, we constantly stopped and looked at the sulfur mining site from afar. And every time a new view opened up to us!

Sulfur mining, Ijen volcano

Having climbed to the top of the crater, we sat down to wait for dawn. This is where the blanket we picked up at the hotel came in handy.

The sun was slowly creeping out from behind the mountains. And again there was a feeling that we were on another planet!

By this time, other tourists began to arrive at the volcano; not everyone is ready to climb here at night, and some do not know about the blue fire. In any case, there are many more tourists during the day. And local entrepreneurs take advantage of this. We didn’t notice this at night, but at the beginning of the path to the crater there is a sign that it is very dangerous to go down, and this is the absolute truth, and as dawn broke a guard appeared near the sign who did not let anyone go down without a guide. And, of course, for a certain amount, he either escorted tourists down there himself, or sent his friend.

The sun continued to rise slowly, illuminating the crater more and more....

And on the opposite side the Moon was still visible, slowly leaving the slope.

Stunning contrast!

A look from a different angle at the crater of the Ijen volcano.

And this is the road along which we have to go, the very edge of the crater!

And again the crater of the volcano.

We sat for a while and began to descend from the volcano. The night shift sulfur miners were walking down the road with us at a brisk pace.

And more and more people working in the morning came to the meeting, with empty baskets.

I was very glad that the sun came out and it became warm. I decided to take a photo against the backdrop of the view from a height of almost 2400 meters. This is certainly not Agung with Rinjani, but it is also very beautiful!

There are peaks rising all around, I don’t know if they are volcanoes or not, but they are very similar.

On the way we came across one sulfur miner; he had no fingers. It is not known whether this is related to his work or not, but anything is possible.

A little lower down the slope there are check scales, here the miners weigh their baskets. Although in fact, they feel their weight quite accurately with their hands.

Here they take a smoke break, and tourists drink tea and have a snack.
You can also buy sulfur figures here. They are made by the miners themselves. There are figures made from molds in the form of animals and hearts, and others in the form of icicles like flowing sulfur. And there are heaps like anthills, this is from sulfur dripping into the water. We exchanged one that looked like an anthill for the second respirator, and our guide gave us another one in the shape of an icicle. If you buy them, then you can bargain; they come up with prices themselves, focusing on the size of the figures.

But first, the main “boss” checks everything properly!

At the drop-off point, everyone sits patiently, waiting for their turn to weigh the baskets.

Two people near the scales help lift the load onto the scales, and another one weighs, records the data and gives the miners a receipt, according to which they receive money at the window nearby. On average, it comes out to 75 thousand rupees (about $7.5) at a time. There are two lifts per shift. Some people bring two rockers in one trip, carry one for a bit first, leave it and go for the second, changing them all the way.

After weighing, the contents of the baskets are sent to the truck.

We said goodbye to our guide, we had to return to the hotel and get ready for the bus. But before we got on the bike, we went to look for a toilet. There is generally a normal one there, but due to the fact that the volcano is officially closed, the water supply does not work and, accordingly, the toilet does not either. And since there are a lot of tourists here, this problem was solved like this.

And while we were looking for this place, we came across a minibus driver in the parking lot. He asked if we needed to go somewhere, we had difficulty explaining that first we would return to Arabica on a bike, and then we should head towards the Bromo volcano, to the town of Probolinggo. Luckily for us, that’s where he was going. The driver first announced to us a price of 600 thousand rupees ($65), we negotiated this figure to 400 thousand ($45) for two. The joyful ones sat on their bike, which again refused to start, pushing it down the hill and quickly reached the hotel. We collected our things and soon a minibus arrived. We sat in the back seat and along the way we looked at the views of the mountains surrounding us a little more.

It is located at the junction of two tectonic plates, forming the so-called “ring of fire of the earth”, caused by the friction of these plates. It is in this area that volcanoes form and most earthquakes on the planet occur. The island itself is also of volcanic origin. A mountain range stretches along the entire island, topped with peaks exceeding 3000 meters. There are over 100 volcanoes in Java and about 35 of them are active.
Fans of extreme excursions from all over the world come here to see this mysterious and unpredictable miracle of nature with their own eyes.
Those wishing to visit these places can purchase a guided bus tour at any travel agency. Or you can rent a car and a driver, who will be happy to tell and show you everything for a small fee, and such an excursion will cost much less.

Volcano Merapi.

The 2915 meter high volcano is the most active in both Java and all of Indonesia. The name translates as “the place from which fire comes out.”
The most catastrophic eruptions occurred in the 10th century, when the eruption turned the once fertile lands into a scorched desert for 3 centuries, and the ancient state of Mataram was almost completely destroyed. In 1673, an eruption completely buried several cities. In the 30s of the last century, due to violent eruption over 1000 people were injured.
Nowadays, eruptions occur about 2 times a year, and once every 7 years there is an eruption of particularly monstrous force. Streams of hot lava continuously flow along the scorched slopes, so the most safe place for observing the volcano - a station built specifically to study its activity.

Volcano Semeru.

This volcano is the highest on the island, its height reaches 3646 meters. Over the past 5 years, there has been an increase in activity, gas and ash emissions at southern slope occur every 30-40 minutes. Therefore, the safest northern slope for observation is Papanjakan, which is reached by a path surrounded by impenetrable jungle. The most impressive view opens at sunrise, when in the first rays of the sun the peaks of Bromo and Semeru, located on the same line, begin to emerge from the clouds. This panorama is one of the most unusual and breathtaking in the world, reminiscent of alien landscapes.

Volcano Bromo.

The volcano was formed in the 11-kilometer Tangger caldera, formed after a prehistoric catastrophic eruption. Over the past few decades, it has been constantly active: the 200 m deep crater is constantly shrouded in smoke. It is best to watch the sunrise here; for this you need to arrive to these places in advance. In a nearby village you can spend the night inexpensively.
In addition, you need to stock up on masks, protective cases for cameras and warm clothing: the crater is usually cool and very windy. The road to the crater runs between gorges along paths strewn with ash. The climb on foot lasts about 30 minutes, many suggest a horse, but in any case, the last part of the journey is about 100 meters, you will have to climb the steep slopes yourself. The crater itself is equipped with concrete observation deck, from which at sunrise the volcano appears in all its splendor: the height is breathtaking, the landscape resembles a fantasy, the sun gradually paints the mountain peaks in delicate colors.
An ancient functioning temple was built on the northern side of the volcano. It was created by the inhabitants of a small village, accustomed to a dangerous neighborhood. Every year they arrange peculiar sacrifices to nature, throwing fruits, flowers and rice into the crater, thus trying to appease the forces of nature.

Volcano Krakatoa.

Sadly famous volcano, or rather, what is left of it is located in the west of the island. A gigantic eruption in 535 caused global climate change, and as a result of the disaster, the Sunda Strait was formed. The last eruption in 1883, almost swept away the island, the ash column reached a height of 30 km, the tsunami raised destroyed cities and towns, raised by the explosion air wave circled the globe. In 1930, on the site of the destroyed vent, a new volcano— Anak Krakatoa.
Today it reaches a height of 1000 meters and a diameter of 3 kilometers. The crater is still active, regularly releasing gases, rocks and lava into the atmosphere. Scientists around the world are constantly monitoring the volcanic activity of Krakatoa. Local residents and tourists are prohibited from approaching the crater closer than a kilometer. You can go around the surroundings of the volcano by boat, at the same time visiting National Park Ujong Pendant.

Papandayan Volcano.

The crater of the volcano is located at an altitude of about 2000 m. It is famous for the fact that numerous geysers erupt here, and a warm-water river flows along the slopes, in which those who wish can swim. In addition, mud pots formed at the foot.

Volcano Tangkuban Perahu.

Translated, the name sounds like “upside down boat.” To the top in given time The inactive volcano can be reached along a fairly good road. The slopes are covered with evergreen forest, and from the top of the crater there is an impressive panorama of the surrounding area.

Volcano Ijen.

The volcano is part huge complex, consisting of craters and cones surrounding the main caldera within a radius of 20 km. Its depth is about 250 meters and width 1.5 km. It contains famous miracle nature - the sulfur lake Kawah Ijen, which has a turquoise hue. On the banks there is a large natural deposit of sulfur, and here you can observe the process of its extraction itself. There are many picturesque waterfalls and geysers in the vicinity of the volcano. You can also see something unusual here. a natural phenomenon: Blue flames and steam emerge from crevices onto the surface. The reason for this phenomenon is the combustion of sulfur dioxide at temperatures above 600 degrees. The glow is best seen at night. Besides, local residents offer unique souvenirs - stalactites made of sulfur.
Residents of the Indonesian islands have learned to put up with such a dangerous neighborhood and even benefit from it. After all, eruptions richly fertilize the soil, which makes it possible to harvest several harvests a year. And numerous guests of Java get a rare opportunity to see unique landscapes up close and enjoy the incredible beauty and power of nature.

A formidable and dangerous volcano on the most densely populated island on the planet is located near the economically significant city of Yogyakarta for the island of Java. This one of the island's many active volcanoes, it would seem, does not frighten local residents at all. The volcano has small eruptions twice a year, it erupts seriously once every 7 years, and the volcano smokes constantly.

One of the eruptions of Merapi, which took place in 1673, wiped out several cities and villages from the face of the earth and completely changed the landscape of a large area - even the rivers then changed their courses. Even earlier, in 1006, when the volcano awakened, a crack formed in it, and the eruption was so terrible and large-scale that it destroyed the entire kingdom of Mataram. Today, Merapi is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet, and within a radius of many kilometers from its foot, all activities are prohibited, including tourist passages and ascents.

Volcano Batok

Batok Volcano is an extinct volcano located in the east of the island of Java, Indonesia. Batok is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru Volcanic Park National Park. The height of the volcano is 2440 meters.

Batok Volcano is neither the highest nor the most beautiful volcano in Bromo Park, however, unlike active volcanoes, Batok last erupted a long time ago and is completely safe to climb. The slopes of the volcano have already been overgrown with evergreen trees of the Casuarina species, turning the volcano into a very picturesque place.

From the top of the mountain there is a wonderful view of the volcanic park - three active volcanoes come into view at once, spewing clouds of smoke and hot gas into the sky. In addition, Batok Volcano is surrounded by many ancient legends and is the most mystical and atmospheric place in the entire park.

A good observation platform and the absence of any danger associated with climbing active volcano, - all this makes Mount Batok the most convenient place for tourist excursions.

Tangkuban Volcano

Tangkuban Perahu Volcano is an active stratovolcano located in the west of the island of Java, Indonesia. The height of the volcano is 1800 meters, and it last erupted in 1983.

Tangkuban Volcano is one of the most popular tourist attractions in West Java. Unlike the east of the island, where the slopes of the volcanoes are steep and dangerous, the Tangkuban volcano is a gentle hill - you can even climb to its craters by car. The slopes of the volcano are very picturesque - since last eruption the mountain is overgrown with evergreen mountain forest, through which the road to the top is laid.

The volcano has several large craters, some of which are even allowed for tourists to descend into - of course, only accompanied by an experienced guide.

From the top of Tangkuban there is simply stunning views of the city of Bandung and its surroundings. And shortly before noon, a dense fog usually thickens over the crater, adding to the beauty of this place.

Tangkuban Volcano - perfect place for those tourists who love to enjoy wildlife in comfortable conditions, while avoiding unnecessary risks.

Volcano Bromo

Mount Bromo is an active volcano, one of the main tourist attractions of the island of Java, in Indonesia. Vulcan is part of national park Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, its height is 2329 meters.

Volcano Bromo has been surrounded by superstitions since ancient times and is central place to perform numerous rituals of local residents. In particular, there is Yadnya Kasada - a festival to calm the volcano. This action lasts about a month, and on the fourteenth day it is customary to make a procession to the volcano to bring it your gifts. Indonesians symbolically donate food, fruit or animals to the volcano, and after the sacrifice they pray, hoping to appease the gods.

The Yadnya Kasada ritual is very ancient, it originated in the east of Java back in the fifteenth century, drawing its mythology from local legends, which the islanders willingly treat all tourists who want to join the ceremony of appeasing the volcano.

The ceremony itself is extremely bright and colorful, but it cannot be called safe - the climb to Bromo is associated with a whole series of dangers, and only the most desperate daredevils even dare to go down to the crater. Nevertheless, the ritual of climbing the volcano regularly attracts many lovers of exotic and extreme entertainment.

Volcano Kawa Ijen

In Indonesia, on the island of Java, there is a real active volcano, into the crater of which you can take an exciting trip. The height of the Kawa Ijen volcano is 2386 meters.

Climbing the volcano takes about 1.5 hours and does not require serious physical training. From the ridge of the mountain there is a breathtaking view of the picturesque surroundings of the island of Java. But it’s especially beautiful in the volcano at night, when you can watch a crazy extravaganza of lights and molten sulfur.

There is a lake in the crater itself amazing beauty, to which several paths lead. The lake is emerald in color and, according to local residents, is filled with hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. The temperature on the surface is approximately 60 degrees, and at a depth of two hundred meters it is three times hotter.

When traveling here, you must wear a respirator with filters, because... sulfur fumes emanating from a sulfur deposit are very poisonous. Here, day and night, sulfur is continuously mined by hand. Indonesian workers carry heavy baskets as they make their way from the bottom of the crater to the base of the volcano.

Volcano Kursi

Kursi Volcano is a stratovolcano located in the eastern part of the island of Java, Indonesia. Kursi is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and is 2581 meters high.

Kursi Volcano, like a number of other volcanoes in the Bromo National Park, is located in a caldera ancient volcano Tengger. Kursi is a very active volcano, and although it has not erupted in the twentieth century, volcanic activity it does not stop for a second - Kursi regularly spews superheated steam and hot gas into the air. That is why climbing this volcano is inextricably linked with a number of dangers, but this does not stop extreme tourists.

The area around the volcano is harsh, but attractive in its own way. Around Kursi is the so-called Tengger Sand Sea - a flat, lifeless desert, covered with a layer of sand and volcanic ash. Dust storms are common here and almost nothing grows.

That is why those who like a more relaxing holiday are better off admiring the volcano from afar, for example from the top extinct volcano Batok, located nearby.

Sights of Java

Volcano Ijen is an active volcano in Indonesia. Another name is synonymous with the name of the local sulfur lake Kawah Ijen or simply Kawah.

Located in a densely populated area in East Java, it is the border of 2 districts: Bondowoso and Banuwangi. This volcano is a complex consisting of more than a dozen volcanic objects: stratovolcanoes, volcanic cones, craters, located within a radius of 20 km around the caldera.

The Ijen Volcano crater is one of the most attractive and dangerous on Earth. Active volcano, constantly spewing clouds of sulfur smoke.

The Kawa Ijen volcano is not like its brothers. Inside its volcanic bowl, it is not fire-boiling lava seething, but quietly spread out, surrounded by rocks, is an amazingly beautiful unearthly lake with the same name - Kawah Ijen. Its dimensions are 950 by 600 meters, its volume is 36 million cubic meters. But it is filled not with water, but with a mixture of concentrated sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, and hot: its temperature on the surface is about 60 degrees, at the bottom - even higher. Once a sheet of aluminum was lowered into this lake for twenty minutes, and when it was taken out, the thickness of the metal became comparable to the thinnest fabric. Can you imagine what would happen if an eruption suddenly started? When will the magma boil the eerie contents of the lake and tons of acid will rise into the air? This threat is not unfounded. The Indonesian government set Kawa Ijen's activity level to a yellow alert in 2012 and has yet to lower the alert. But Lake Kawah Ijen looks extraordinary!

The color of its surface is changeable, it is sometimes apple green, sometimes emerald, sometimes malachite with a turquoise tint. On the shore and in the distance, on gray rocks with veins, various-sized blocks of bright yellow color are scattered. This is native sulfur. At first it is liquid, a beautiful dark red color and creeps along the slopes like lava. As it cools, it brightens, acquiring the color of amber. Then it turns yellow and becomes hard. IN dark time days, liquid sulfur, oxidizing, begins to glow with unreal blue lights and flashes, fantastically transforming the surroundings. This is blue lava. And during the day, the combustion identifies itself with smoky white puffs. Along the slopes of the crater crater there are many streams of smoke, either steam or smoke. Most likely, through cracks, water vapor escapes from the depths under pressure, and with it toxic hydrogen chloride, asphyxiating sulfur dioxide and even more harmful and insidious hydrogen sulfide.

The combustion is accompanied by six hundred degrees Celsius, the glow is not very intense in daylight, and in all its glory it can only be observed at night.

Photographing this spectacle is no easy task. French photographer Olivier Grunewald specializes in such images without using any filters or image modification. In order to do this, he must wait until sunset, when the blue flames are visible. He works with a gas mask to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.

Near the lake, local residents have been mining sulfur for a long time. This is very hard and dangerous work. People hand-load baskets with pieces of sulfur and then carry the load to a nearby valley, where they are paid for the spoils. Typically, a basket of sulfur weighs 75-90 kg, and it has to be carried about 300 meters uphill, and then another 3 km after descending from the crater to the nearest sugar factory, where sulfur is used in purification processes. Most workers make the trip twice a day and earn about $10-$13 a day, according to 2010 data.

By local standards, this is a highly paid and prestigious job. The island of Java has a very high population density and unemployment. Sulfur miners are a kind of working elite.

People who do this work often complain of breathing problems. And this is not surprising, because staying in the Ijen crater for a long time without a gas mask is dangerous to your health. In turn, workers often neglect protection while around sulfur.

Sulfur fumes are so dangerous to health that the average life expectancy of workers is only about 47 years.

Volcano Ijen is one of the most amazing, and at the same time the most dangerous places on Globe. It represents an entire volcanic complex, as it includes craters, old volcanoes, volcanic cones, some of which are located at a distance of 20 kilometers from each other. In a thirst for adventure, thousands of tourists come here every year to see with their own eyes the incredibly beautiful blue fire, the largest volcanic lake and inhumane conditions for sulfur mining.

The volcano is located on the island of Java, on the border of two districts: Banyuwangi and Bondosovo. It is a whole complex, which includes about 10 objects. From a tourist point of view, the most remarkable is the crater of the Ijen volcano. Being in constant activity, it spews out clouds of gray smoke without interruption.

Ijen is significantly different from other volcanoes. In its crater, instead of seething lava, there is an emerald lake. The dimensions of the reservoir are 950×600 meters. But instead of ordinary water, the lake is filled with a mixture of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid. On the surface the temperature of the mixture is 50-60 degrees. Its color is constantly changing, it is now turquoise, now malachite, now emerald. On the shore and a little away from the lake, veins of a bright yellow hue may appear. This is exactly sulfur.

In liquid form, sulfur has a bright red tint. Flowing down the slopes, it cools and brightens. After this, it becomes hard and turns yellow. At night, as a result of oxidation, sulfur has a beautiful blue tint.

Near the lake, the local population is engaged in sulfur mining. This is quite difficult and dangerous work. After filling the baskets with pieces of sulfur, workers manually lower them down. The weight of one such burden is about 80 kilograms. During the day, the guys manage to complete only two such descents, as a result of which they receive $10-13. By the standards of the island of Java, this is a very prestigious and highly paid job. The population density here is high and the unemployment rate is at its highest. Therefore, residents try to take on any job.

How to get to the volcano from Bali?

There are two ways to get to Ijen from Bali. If you don’t want to worry about anything, you can order group tour. You can take it. This destination is very popular among tourists, so hikes are organized regularly. Program cost in large group starts from $95. This tour lasts 2 days.

IN independent travel There is nothing complicated on Ijen either. Initially, from Bali you need to get to Banyuwangi - this is the closest locality, where it is well developed tourism infrastructure. It is also the base point of departure to the volcano. By the way, by contacting local travel agencies, you can also book a tour to climb to the top. Of course, this is not necessary, since you can get to the volcano on your own.

Using any transport you need to get to the Pos Paltuding camp, located at the foot of the mountain. All the necessary infrastructure is concentrated here, there are cafes, shops, and parking. The hike begins from the camp; the entire route lasts about 3 kilometers. Here you can also use the services of a guide who will accompany you there and back. But given that the road is not so difficult, you can climb without his help.

The distance from Banyuwangi to Pos Paltuding is 30 kilometers. There is only one road leading there, which is not of the best quality. To the right place public transport does not run. And you will have to use a taxi, motorcycle taxi, organized tour or a rented bike. The last option is the cheapest, since daily rental transport costs an average of 65 thousand rupees, plus you will not depend on anyone for time.

Ijen Volcano on the map

On this map I marked exact location Ijen volcano.

How to climb the volcano?

As I already noted, hiking the volcano starts from the Pos Paltuding camp at an altitude of 1875 meters. You need to walk 3 kilometers. You will have to overcome a height difference of only 500 meters, this route can take from 1 to 3 hours, it all depends on your physical endurance.

Ascents can be either night or day. The advantage of going at night is that you can see the “blue fire” in the crater of the volcano, as well as watch the sunrise on the top of the mountain. There are always a lot of night travelers. If you decide to hit the road at night, take a flashlight with you, preferably one that is attached to your head.

It is unlikely that you will get lost, since there is only one wide path leading to the top. Sulfur miners also walk along it, so if you meet them on the way, try not to interfere, do not forget that each of them carries about 80 kg. If you decide to take a photo with them, then try to thank them for it. Usually 5-10 thousand rupees is enough.

After you reach the top, you need to go down another 200 meters to the lake itself. This descent is quite steep and will take about half an hour, so be careful. It is in the crater that you will see a blue flame; this is sulfur being oxidized. Sulfur miners also work here. After admiring this spectacle, climb back to the top of the crater and go to the meeting point of the dawn.

Volcano crater

The volcanic crater with an acid lake located in it is 361 meters wide, its depth reaches up to 200 m. Being in it is quite dangerous, but this does not stop tourists.

Having climbed to the top, you will see that the crater is filled with acrid gray fumes - sulfur vapors, which have an extremely negative effect on human health. There is always a high temperature near the pipes from which sulfur flows; it is dangerous not only for health, but also for life. That is why, when climbing Ijen, be sure to take a protective mask with you, and the better it filters the air, the easier it will be for you to breathe.

But if you observe the crater from the side, that is, lingering on its slopes, then a picture of incredible beauty will open before you: devastated rocky slopes, tubers of caustic sulfur rising upward and a motionless acidic lake, considered one of the most dangerous in the whole world.

Hotels near the volcano

The most the best option Where you can stay overnight are the towns of Banyuwangi and Bondosovo. They have good tourist infrastructure, and there will be no problems with choosing accommodation. If you are coming from Bali, it is better to give preference to the city of Banyuwangi. To the number best hotels this city includes:

There are also several cozy guesthouses located near Ijen. 2 of them are located in the village of Sempol, 10 kilometers from the mountain, and one is in the camp where the walking route to the crater. In Sempol you can stay in the houses of the local population; they usually rent out rooms.

If you are planning to visit a volcano, pay attention to the following recommendations:

The ideal time to travel is from April to October, when it is dry and warm.
Price entrance ticket only 15 thousand rupees, but at the same time take money with you for travel, food and overnight stay.
The hike to the volcano is physically exhausting. Therefore, you should decide in advance the issue of overnight stay. Good hotels are located in Banyuwangi town. You can also spend the night at a tea plantation that you will meet along the way. In addition to a place where you can spend the night, you will be offered a tasting of aromatic tea and a fascinating tour of the plantations.
The duration of the path from the foot to the top is only 3 kilometers, but this section of the path is considered the most difficult. Due to the fact that the route consists of gentle paths, people of any age, including children, can go on a trip. I advise you to check the weather forecast in advance; during strong winds and rain, visibility will be limited. Among the unpleasant consequences are colds and poor health.
Please note that the mountain is quite high and literally in the middle of the journey you will want to dress warmly. Accordingly, it will be even cooler at the top. Therefore, take warm clothes with you.
The released sulfur vapors permeate the air with a foul aroma, which irritates the mucous membranes and can trigger asthma attacks. Be sure to take masks, respirators or gas masks with you. The higher the protective properties of the product you choose, the better for you. Cases of sulfur poisoning among tourists have been recorded.
If you want to do a good deed, you can take with you several respirators or cotton-gauze bandages for the sulfur miners, since they don’t even have enough money for such vital little things.
Take care of comfortable equipment. You should have stable shoes, insulated clothing and preferably gloves.

Ijen is so popular place that residents of other countries specially come here to see with their own eyes another natural miracle. If you are vacationing in Bali, then try to find time and go to the volcano. The main thing is not to forget about the basic safety rules, and you will get a lot of positive emotions from such a trip.

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