Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen)
Ijen Crater
Ijen crater is a complex of strato volcanoes in proximity to Banyuwangi in East Java, Ijen and the landscape around it is dominated by the volcanic cones of Ijen, Merapi, on the northeastern edge of the Plateau and Raung on the southwest corner.
Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater) is the center of attraction, being an acid crater lake about 1 km wide, turqoise in color that lies at 2148 meters above sea level.
The craters vent is a source of sulfure and collectors work here, making the daily trek up to the crater collecting pure sulfur from the quarry on the lake’s edge and carrying them in large shoulder baskets that may weigh up to 80 kg.
Ijen Blue Fire
The volcanic cone of Ijen dominates the landscape at the eastern end of Java. Crater of Ijen is filled by a spectacular turquoise blue lake, its surface streaked in wind-blown patterns of yellow sulphur.
Kawah Ijen is the world’s largest highly acidic lake and is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are hand-carried from the crater floor. Many other post-caldera cones and craters are located within the caldera or long its rim.
The largest concentration of post-caldera cones forms an E-W-treding zone across the southern site of the draw to its waterfalls, hot springs, and dramatic volcanic scenery.
Ijen blue fire is phenomenon here and it is the largest blue flame area in the world. If you want to see the blue fire you need to visit during midnight hiking. Takes 2 hours to reach the rim of the crater.
Where is it
It is located at Licin sub district, 45 km from the city of Banyuwangi.
When you should visit
April to October every year.
How do you go to Ijen Crater
By Air
To be able to reach Banyuwangi by plane, you can take an airplane route to Belimbing Sari Airport, Banyuwangi. The airport is the closest access to Ijen Banyuwangi Crater. Apart from Ijen Crater, the closest tourist destination is also the Nasonal Baluran Park which has African savanna fields.
By Land
Ijen plateau is usually accessed from the town of Bondowoso, from either the northern or the southern coast and Banyuwangi, Pos Paltuding, the starting point for the 8 km hike to Kawah Ijen, is 64 km from Bondowoso. The starting point can also be reached from Banyuwangi with a 4WD vehicle.
Mount Ijen Indonesia
Now Mount Ijen Nature Park and Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java have been designated as World Biosphere Reserves by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The two biological sites are incorporated in the Blambangan Biosphere Reserve along with Meru Betiri National Park and Baluran National Park which are located in tandem with Banyuwangi.
Blambangan Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 678,947.36 hectares divided into three zones, namely the core area covering 127,855.62 hectares covering three national parks (Alas Purwo National Park, Baluran National Park, and Meru Betiri National Park) and one Nature Reserve, Ijen Crater ; buffer zone covering 230,277.4 hectares; and the transition area of 320,814.34 hectares.
What makes one of the other attractions in Ijen Crater is the activity of the miners who carry tens of kilograms of sulfur. Their efforts are so much highlighted by the media at home and abroad. With dangerous conditions they still earn a living even though they have to bet their lives inhaling poisonous air from Ijen Crater.
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