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Indonesia's Deadly Acid Lake: A Turquoise Terror
16 Jan
Summary
- Kawah Ijen boasts the world's most acidic crater lake with pH lower than 0.3.
- Bright turquoise water is visible from space due to mineral and acid content.
- Locals mine solidified sulphur from the crater floor despite extreme dangers.
Indonesia's Kawah Ijen volcano on Java island cradles the planet's most acidic crater lake. This striking turquoise body of water, so vibrant it's visible from space, possesses a pH level below 0.3, making it comparable to battery acid and capable of dissolving metal.
The lake's extreme acidity and the constant emission of toxic gases like sulfur dioxide pose significant threats to life. Yet, this dangerous environment also serves as a crucial workplace for local miners who extract solidified sulfur from the crater floor, carrying heavy loads up steep inclines daily.
Kawah Ijen is also a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors with its spectacular, naturally occurring blue flames caused by burning sulfurous gases. Tourists often hike before dawn to witness this phenomenon and the lake's unusual color, equipped with gas masks for safety.
