The Stunning Blue Fire in Ijen Crate
Photo by Zongnan Bao on Unsplash
There are only two blue fire phenomena in the world and one of them is in Indonesia. Yup! Besides Dallol mountain in Ethiopia, this phenomenon also exists in the Ijen crater in Indonesia, precisely on a mountain called Mount Ijen which is located in Bondowoso and Banyuwangi districts. But, did you know about the stunning blue fire?
Mostly, the colour of lava is orange-red. However, on this blue fire, the lava will have a neon-blue colour. This is caused to the burning of large amounts of sulphur gas at temperatures over 360 degrees Celsius or 680 degrees Fahrenheit. This event produces a unique and magnificent flame. This blue fire is very worthy to be captured. People are willing to climb the mountain in the middle of the night to witness its beauty.
Ijen Crater is a well-known travel destination among foreign tourists. It is a crater lake of Mount Ijen which has a depth of up to 200 meters. It is a volcanic complex in East Java that is recognized as one of Indonesia's must-see attractions. Do you know that when compared to the mountains adjacent to it such as Mount Meranti, Mount Raung, and Kawah Wurung, only Mount Ijen has a crater. It's impressive, right?
The Best Time To See Blue Fire
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The blue fire in Ijen crater can only be seen in the middle of the night around 2 am to 5 am. Yup! To enjoy this blue fire phenomenon, you must be in Ijen crater at midnight. To get there, you have to do a fairly dangerous midnight hike. For ordinary climbers or those of you who are climbing Mount Ijen for the first time, it is highly recommended to be accompanied by a professional guide service.
You can see this blue fire phenomenon from the edge of the crater, or you can also see it closer by slightly descending into the crater area. But you must remember, the track you have to go through is not easy. You must be super careful.
Because this blue fire is a tour that shows off the beauty of nature, we also can't expect the beauty of this blue fire to always look clear and easy–even though we have worked hard for it—. Sometimes, when the weather is cloudy, the blue fire will be covered by thick sulphur clouds. Not only makes it difficult for us to enjoy the beauty of blue fire, but these clouds can also make it difficult for us to breathe. Before climbing, you must check the weather forecast first, okay?
But if you do love adventure and you find blue fire is enticing. This is a must-do trip for you.
Last but not least. It’s better to visit the blue fire of Ijen crater in the dry season because in the rainy season the track is harder to pass with its slippery and rocky path. For more information, given the popularity and the crowd that might happen, you better visit this attraction outside the holiday season.
Enjoy The Sunrise And Turquoise Ijen Crater Lake
Photo by Andiko Baskoro on Unsplash
After the scenic blue fire, Ijen Crater doesn't stop there to spoil your eyes. When the dawn has come and the blue fire begins to fade away, you will be presented with a beautiful sunrise from the top of Mount Ijen. Of course, the beauty of the sunrise at Ijen Crater is no less beautiful than sunrises in other places.
Imagine having your first golden light of the day in a such scenic spot, and the world is gently waking up. Sunrise is always a magical panorama to enjoy.
The sun starts to shine brightly, and you can see the beautiful scenery around you clearly. At that time, you will find the Turquoise Lake Ijen Crater. Besides the dazzling blue fire, this is the best spot on Mount Ijen. Most people visit Mount Ijen to enjoy the view of this Ijen Crater Lake.
Additional Tips
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Generally speaking, you must prepare all of the necessary items before do hiking. Like a thick coat, hiking shoes, and so on. But in the case of chasing blue fire in ijen crater, you have to prepare a gas mask, this is an essential thing to bring remembering the sulphur gas in ijen crater is sometimes wild. You can rent this at the Ijen entrance gate or you can buy it at your favourite shop. And if you are afraid of the smoke will irritate your eyes, you can bring a goggle with you.
How to get to ijen crater
Paltuding serves as the Ijen Crater Nature Reserve's starting point or entry gate. You will initially arrive at this location before starting your journey at Mount Ijen.
If you depart from Banyuwangi international airport or Blimbingsari airport, the time needed to get to Paltuding is about 1.5 hours. Whereas it only takes about 1 hour to get there from downtown Banyuwangi. You can drive a private vehicle to Paltuding, however, the route is fairly steep given that this is a highland area.
The journey from Paltuding to Ijen Crater is approximately 3 kilometres on a steep and sandy track. The track takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to finish, depending on your physical capabilities.
Where to stay
If you want to rest your body near the Ijen Mountain, say no more. There is numerous hostelry you can choose. They offer the beauty of mountains and village views. The atmosphere here is also quite pleasant and remote from the city's hustle-bustle, making it ideal for those of you who are seeking solitude. The concepts given by these hostelry ranges from rustic to minimalist and modern rooms.
Here are recommendations for you:
- Jiwa Jawa Resort Ijen
- Grand Harvest Resort And Villas
- Ijen Resort And Villas
- Kampoeng Joglo Ijen Banyuwangi
- Jujugan Homestay
