Mount Ijen is located in the eastern part of Java Island, Indonesia. It is a 20-kilometer wide volcanic crater formed by multiple small complex volcanoes. The northern wall of the crater is a curved mountain ridge, while the other parts are made up of various volcanic vents, with Mount Merapi standing at 2799 meters above sea level in the east, serving as the highest point of Mount Ijen.

Mount Ijen is famous worldwide for its abundant sulfur and the foul smell of sulfur emissions, making it one of the smelliest places on earth. Just west of Mount Merapi, at the highest point of Mount Ijen, lies the famous active volcano, Kawah Ijen. Kawah Ijen has a volcanic crater lake about 1 kilometer wide, renowned for its rich sulfur content, now a popular tourist destination. Kawah Ijen is a beautifully surreal volcano with a sulfuric acid lake, where gases emitted form sulfur through fumaroles inside the crater, and local miners make a living by extracting the sulfur ore.

What is most incredible is the night view of the volcano, with liquid sulfur flowing and igniting under the moonlight, emitting eerie blue flames but with an extremely unpleasant smell.

Ijen Volcano

Reasons to visit: The smelliest volcano in the world

Continent: Asia

Country/Region: Indonesia

Province: East Java