The Most Acidic Lake on Earth
Ijen Crater: The World’s Most Acidic Lake
Indonesia is a maritime country passed by the Ring of Fire which makes it very common to have active volcanoes. There are more than 500 mountains with 129 active volcanoes scattered in Indonesia and one of which has the most acidic lake at the top of the mountain.
Get to know the world’s most acidic lake of Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen in Indonesian languages)
in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia with us through this article.
A Unique Turquoise Water Inside a Crater
Mount Ijen is an active volcano inside the Ijen Tourism Park Nature Reserve, Bondowoso Regency. This active volcano produces sulfuric gas which then mixes with the water from its lake making it acidic with up to 0.2 pH level (very high). As a result of the mix, a unique turquoise color reflected on the lake’s water making it a very beautiful viewpoint at the top of the mountain (the crater).
The formation of this crater happened a long time ago in the paleolithic period through a natural cause. There was an ancient mountain with the same name — Ijen, which lets out a great eruption forming a big caldeira. This caldeira known as the Caldeira of Ijen have a 20 kilometers of diameter containing several mountains. Browse our website if you’re interested in the history of Ijen Crater and the mountains surrounding the caldeira.
Blue Fire and Sulfur in an Acidic Crater
Ijen Crater also offers another unique natural phenomenon known as Blue Fire. There are only 2 places in the whole world which has this kind of phenomenon. One located at Ijen Crater in Indonesia and another one at Dallol volcano in Ethiopia. The magical view of blue-colored flames lighting up the night brings many tourists to Ijen Crater. You could only see the flame during night time when there is no sunlight.
Another activity that you can find in Ijen Crater is the sulfur mining. There are locals who mine and collect sulfur as porter from inside the crater’s wall. They collect the sulfur which is then transferred to factories to be used as an ingredient of skincare products (acne care), for crystallization of sugar, and other useful products. Nowadays there are also souvenirs made from sulfur being sold by the porter.
A COMPLETE HIDDEN PARADISE IN JAVA, INDONESIA
Ijen Crater has many things to offer, whether it is a majestic natural view, unique hiking experience, accessible routes, accommodation, and transportation options. There are options for reaching Ijen Crater. The trekking route for Ijen Crater is beginner-friendly with just 3 kilometers of hike. Although the terrain is a little bit steep, it is relatively easy to reach the crater, there is also an option for using a trolley pulled by the locals.
You don’t even have to worry about water or snacks because there are vendors at each checkpoint on the hiking route. Also if you’re interested in going on an affordable trip, you can contact us directly or click the menu above.