Kawah Ijen in Indonesia is home to the world’s largest acidic lake, glowing turquoise and famous for its rare blue flames, where corrosive waters, fire, and geology collide.
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Kawah Ijen Crater Lake in East Java, Indonesia, holds the title of the world’s largest hyper-acidic lake. Its waters contain extreme concentrations of sulphuric and hydrochloric acids, making it as corrosive as battery acid and capable of melting metals under the right conditions. (Image-Canva)
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Nestled inside an active volcano, Kawah Ijen sits atop a restless magma chamber. Hydrothermal fluids rise continuously from deep within Earth’s crust, filling the lake with dissolved minerals and acids. (Image-Canva)
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In some parts of the lake, the pH level drops below 0.3, which is far more acidic than lemon juice or even stomach acid. These conditions would instantly burn human skin, yet remarkably, certain microbes survive, adapting to one of the harshest environments on the planet. (Image-Canva)
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When heavy rains fill the crater, acidic water spills into streams flowing westward into the Banyupahit River, meaning “bitter water.” The river carries corrosive elements downstream, affecting soil, vegetation, and ecosystems far beyond the volcano itself. (Image-Canva)
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Kawah Ijen is globally renowned for its electric-blue flames. Sulphur-rich gases escaping from vents ignite upon contact with oxygen, producing an eerie blue fire best seen at night, a rare phenomenon found in only one or two places on Earth. (Image-Canva)
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As burning gases cool, sulphur condenses into liquid form, flowing briefly like lava before hardening into bright yellow deposits. These sulphur formations coat the crater floor, creating a scenic landscape of fire, smoke, and vivid colour. (Image-Canva)
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Despite the hazards, local miners work daily inside the crater, carrying heavy loads of sulphur by hand. Kawah Ijen stands as a place with extreme geology. (Image-Canva)
NOTE – This article was originally published in News18 Com and can be viewed here
