Mostly people know that the dominant color of the flame is red or orange. In Banyuwangi, there is a place that has unique fire scenery where is the dominant color is blue. It is known that the phenomenon of blue fire can only be found in two places, namely Indonesia and Iceland. The phenomenon of blue flames in Indonesia is in the Ijen crater, Banyuwangi, province of East Java, Indonesia. Blue fire which seen here formed because concentrated sulfuric gas that interacts with oxygen. Actually, the blue fire is not a fire but looks lit like a fire that has a blue tint. It disclosed by a researcher from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. The existence of the phenomenon of blue fire makes Ijen crater tourism known by many people. Area tourism of Ijen crater became one of the tourist destinations are worth a visit by tourists who love unique things.
The tourism area of Ijen crater has located at an altitude of 2,443 meters above sea level. Ijen crater is a crater at the peak of Mount Ijen. This is a series of volcano peaks in East Java such as Bromo, Semeru and Merapi. This crater has a depth of 200 meters and an area of 5.466 hectares. Sulfur content in this region is very high so the sulfur smell is felt so pungent here. Ijen crater area into a cauldron with the highest acid content and the biggest in the world. Ijen crater is also a place to mine sulfur in the traditional way. Source of sulfur sublimed which contained in ijen crater used for various chemistry industrial and sugar purification.
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Ijen Crater (this image belongs to Jean-Marrie Hullot)
image source: https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Kawah_Ijen_-East_Java_-Indonesia-31July2009.jpg |
There are two ways that can be used to achieve the tourism of Ijen crater. The first way (the way for backpacker style, using public transport) is to use the train to the Karangasem station, Banyuwangi. The next trip is from Karangasem station toward the village of Banyusari, subdistrict of Licin (the transport which allows is motorcycle taxi or other public transport). The final step is a trip from the village of Banyusari towards Paltuding. The main gate to the area of Ijen crater is located in the Paltuding. The second way is to use a private vehicle, the route to the are of Ijen crater is Jember-Bondowoso-Wonosari-Tapen-Sempol-Paltuding. The next trip to get to the Ijen crater is on foot about 3 kilometers. The price of admission to the area of Ijen crater is IDR 5000 / USD 0.5 (weekday) and IDR 7.500 / USD 0.75 (weekend) for local tourist (Indonesia) and IDR 100.000 / USD 10 (weekday) and IDR 150.000 / USD 15 (weekend) for foreign tourists.
Visitors who want to see the blue fire should be accompanied by a guide for the sake of the safety of themselves. The best time to see the phenomenon of blue fire is in the morning when the oxygen content is still a lot. Many climbers who climb Ijen crater at dawn to see the phenomenon of blue fire in the Ijen crater. There are lodging facilities for tourists who want to see the phenomenon of blue fire at dawn. Lodging prices for each night ranging between IDR 100,000 ($ 10) to IDR 300,000 ($ 30). The important equipment are to carry masks and glasses. Mask use to block the pungent smell of sulfur into the nose. While the glasses serves to keep the eyes from sulfur gas and dust.
