Kawah Ijen Volcano - Sulfur Mining #7

Kawah Ijen is an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia. At the bottom of the volcano's crater is a lake with high concentrations of sulfuric and hydrochloric acid.

Also at the bottom are active sulfur fumaroles where molten sulfur (as well as SO2 and H2S gases) erupt to the surface. Workers tap into the fumaroles with pipes which condense the sulfur fumes into molten sulfur. The molten sulfur is transported down the face of the sulfur dome to collection areas where it cools into a solid. Workers break up the sulfur and carry out the chunks in baskets. The usual load is around 80 kgs (175 pounds) and earns the worker about 5 US dollars per load. Most of the workers average 2-3 trips a day from the trailhead to Kawah Ijen, a one-way distance of about 3 kms (1.8 miles).

This has to be one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Each man is often carrying more sulfur than he weighs. Most are wearing inadequate footwear, some are even wearing flip-flops for the treacherous descent into the crater. And while in the crater, the workers are exposed to hazardous, if not deadly amounts of poisonous gases from the fumaroles.

On top of that, the lake at the bottom occasionaly 'burps' more poisonous gases, and has been known to kill all working within the crater

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Kawah
• Ijen
• Volcano
• Volcanoes
• Sulfur
• Fumaroles
• Mining
• East
• Java
• Indonesia