Kawah Ijen volcano unleashes sci-fi wonders with mesmerizing electric blue lava

In the heart of Indonesia's Java island lies the captivating Kawah Ijen volcano, making waves not only for its fiery eruptions but also for a mesmerizing phenomenon — electric blue lava. This unique display, captured in a viral video shared on social media, showcases streams of striking blue flames erupting from the volcano's depths.


What makes it blue?


Photographer Olivier Grunewald, who documented this phenomenon in a video released with Geneva's Society for Volcanology, explained, "This blue glow isn't lava, as unfortunately can be read on many websites. It is due to the combustion of sulphuric gases in contact with air at temperatures above 360 degrees Celsius."

The stunning electric blue hue is a result of sulphuric gases escaping from the volcano and undergoing a chemical reaction when exposed to oxygen-rich air. This surreal display, accentuated by the darkness of the night, creates an almost magical ambiance that has left netizens in awe. One social media user remarked, "I never knew lava could be so beautifully blue!" Another expressed the desire to bathe in it, emphasizing the sheer exquisiteness of the phenomenon.

More about the Ijen Volcano

The Ijen volcano, like any other, houses an abundance of sulphur pockets in the rock, causing the blue lava phenomenon. The combustion of sulphuric gases at high pressure and temperature, when the rock burns and turns into sulphur dioxide upon contact with air, produces the striking blue flame. This unusual phenomenon isn't just a visual spectacle; it also has practical implications.

Miners living around the volcano extract sulphuric rock, formed after the blue flames have subsided, for use in the food and chemical industries. They carry rock-filled baskets down the mountain and sell it for about 680 Indonesian rupiahs per kilogram, equivalent to about six cents. Despite the low price, night-time miners can mine and carry between 80 to 100 kg over 12 hours of work, earning around $5 to $6.

The Kawah Ijen volcano, part of a vast volcanic complex with around 22 eruption points, is situated within a crater formed by previous eruptions. The complex features the world's largest acid lake, with a pH value of zero, making swimming in the lake a life-threatening activity.