image creditTo stand on the slopes of Kawah Ijen is to be surrounded by beauty. The lake in the volcano crater is a stunning turquoise green, and the surrounding landscape strikes you with its views across the sea. White plumes of what appears to be steam billow from vents in the rock, adding to the ethereal atmosphere of the place.
But looks can be deceptive. What seems like a tranquil pool is actually a basin of sulfuric acid, and the clouds wafting above a toxic mix of sulfurous fumes. Despite its sublime beauty, this volcanic caldera is a place of fire and brimstone, as enchanting as it is deadly. No one knows this better than the men who come here daily to mine the toxic sulfur for which the volcano is famous.The Presurfer
