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Journalism of Courage
Indian travel creator Isa Khan recently witnessed a stunning glimpse of Indonesia’s Ijen Crater, where the night is lit up by extraordinary “blue” fire. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Ijen Crater is home to a rare blue fire phenomenon caused by a chemical reaction between sulfur and oxygen. Unlike the typical red or orange flames seen in most volcanoes, its high sulfur content and temperatures exceeding 360 degrees create the perfect conditions for this unique blue blaze. This striking natural occurrence can only be witnessed at night, as the brightness of daylight overpowers the visibility of the blue flames.
The now-viral video shared by Khan shows him trekking up the volcano at night, wearing a gas mask to navigate the sulfur-heavy air. The blue flames can be seen falling through the rocky trail, creating a stunning visual. In the caption, Khan shared the challenging journey, which began at 1.00 AM, in freezing temperatures. After reaching the summit in complete darkness, his guide told him they had to descend into the crater before dawn to witness the blue fire.
“The descent was rough, and as we got closer, thick smoke filled the air. Even with a mask on, I could feel the sulphur burning my throat. Breathing felt heavy, almost suffocating. But then, through the haze, I saw it,” he said in the caption.
As the sun began to rise, Khan and his team climbed back to reach the turquoise lake at the summit. “As the sun started to rise, we climbed back up. And just like that, the chaos of the crater was replaced by the calm of the turquoise lake at the top. From fire to peace in a matter of hours,” he wrote.
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The video impressed social media users, with one commenting, “I saw a documentary about this place on youtube, now I’m watching your reel… Definitely I have to go and experience it someday.” Another user wrote, “This is CRAZYYYY. Unbelievable stuff.”
“It’s beautiful to witness something like this,” a third user commented.
