Located on the island of Java in Indonesia, Kawah Ijen volcano is unlike any other on Earth. Kawah Ijen features a lake of pure acid and has become a hotspot for sulfur mining over the years. Due to its high sulfur content, this volcano exhibits a uniquely strange phenomenon. It spews lava that is very different from the usual red molten magma witnessed at other volcanoes. The lava erupting from this volcano is blue in color.
Image Source: Ijen Volcano is 2,600 meters tall (8,660 ft), topped with a large caldera and a 200-meter-deep lake of sulfuric acid. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
The blue shade in the lava is because of the combusting sulphuric gases, as per BBC's Science Focus magazine. These toxic gases are emitted from the many vents of the volcano at temperatures of up to 600°C (around 1,100°F). When these hot gases meet the oxygen-filled air, they burn and create neon-blue flames.
The flames get their distinctive color because of a phenomenon called 'electronic excitation.' It is the process through which the intense heat produced by the burning sulphuric gases ‘excites’ electrons within the sulphur atoms. This excited state is extremely unstable, causing the electrons to quickly return to their 'relaxed' state by shedding excess energy as light.
Documenting the stunning yet terrifying visuals of this unique volcano, a user named Joshua Platillero (@megaamerican) uploaded a brief clip on his Instagram handle. In it, we see him wearing a large gas mask and walking around the volcano, getting a very close look at the rare lava shade. It is highly advisable to wear a mask when touring this volcano site due to the presence of toxic fumes in the air.
Representative Image Source: Pexels | Andrew Schwark
The locals in Java refer to this spectacle as Api Biri, which means ‘blue fire,' as per UNILAD. At the same time, people who live in this area are well aware of the health hazards that erupt from the tourist attraction.
Platillero shared the video with a caption that read, "Couldn’t get over the smooth sound of the fire," and it has received plenty of attention from viewers. The post has already got over 427k views.
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The beautiful blue volcano was captured in detail by a BBC Earth Science team which talked about the true nature of the Kawah Ijen crater. Geologist Dr. Glyn Williams-Jones stated how the local mine workers utilize the abundant amount of sulphur on the surface," The local miners have installed ceramic pipes to take away the volcanic gases and condense them into pure sulphur." Filmmaker Régis Etienne, who made the BBC video, shed light on the consequences of working in these mines as he said, "The majority of the workers at the volcano have health problems like lung problems and breathing problems." He added, "They do that all for a salary of 4-5 euros a day."
The YouTube video was widely appreciated by the audience, who were also stunned by the workers' horrible conditions. "I'm convinced it's Hell fire," commented @chiron3660 and @KeepCalmandLoveClassics added: "Feeling sad for the workers."
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President Donald J. Trump and photo of a forest.
Public united and adamantly opposes Trump’s plan to roll back the Roadless Rule
There doesn't seem to be much agreement happening in the U.S. right now. Differing moral belief systems, economic disparity, and political divide have made a country with so many positives sometimes feel a little lost. Everyone desperately seeks a niche, a connection, or a strong sense of community to which they can feel a "part of," rather than just "apart."
But there seems to be one thing that the country strongly unites over, and that's the "Roadless Rule." With the Trump Administration attempting to roll back conservation policies that protect U.S. National Forests, Americans are saying in harmony an emphatic "No." A nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization, the Center for Western Priorities, reviewed a comment analysis on the subject. After receiving 223,862 submissions, a staggering 99 percent are opposed to the president's plan of repeal.
What is the 'Roadless Rule' policy implemented in 2001?
The Roadless Rule has a direct impact on nearly 60 million acres of national forests and grasslands. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the rule prohibits road construction and timber harvests. Enacted in 2001, it is a conservation rule that protects some of the least developed portions of our forests. It's considered to be one of the most important conservation wins in U.S. history.
America's national forests and grasslands are diverse ecosystems, timeless landscapes, and living treasures. They sustain the country with clean water and the wood products necessary to build our communities. The National Parks protected under their umbrella offer incredible recreational retreats and outdoor adventure.
Why does the administration want to roll it back?
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins told the Department of Agriculture in a 2025 press release, “We are one step closer to common sense management of our national forest lands. Today marks a critical step forward in President Trump’s commitment to restoring local decision-making to federal land managers to empower them to do what’s necessary to protect America’s forests and communities from devastating destruction from fires." Rollins continued, “This administration is dedicated to removing burdensome, outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations that not only put people and livelihoods at risk but also stifle economic growth in rural America. It is vital that we properly manage our federal lands to create healthy, resilient, and productive forests for generations to come. We look forward to hearing directly from the people and communities we serve as we work together to implement productive and commonsense policy for forest land management.”
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz explained the Roadless Rule frustrated land management and acts as a challenging barrier to action. It prohibits road construction needed to navigate wildfire suppression and properly maintain the forest. Schultz said, “The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001. They are dangerously overstocked and increasingly threatened by drought, mortality, insect-borne disease, and wildfire. It’s time to return land management decisions where they belong – with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities."
Why are people adamantly opposed to the proposed rollback?
A 2025 article in Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization, expressed its concern over the protection of national forests covering 36 states and Puerto Rico. A rescinded rule allows increased logging, extractive development, and oil and gas drilling in previously undisturbed backcountry. Here is what some community leaders had to say about it:
President Gloria Burns, Ketchikan Indian Community, said, "You cannot separate us from the land. We depend on Congress to update the outdated and predatory, antiquated laws that allow other countries and outside sources to extract our resource wealth. This is an attack on Tribes and our people who depend on the land to eat. The federal government must act and provide us the safeguards we need or leave our home roadless. We are not willing to risk the destruction of our homelands when no effort has been made to ensure our future is the one our ancestors envisioned for us. Without our lungs (the Tongass) we cannot breathe life into our future generations.”
Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, stated, "Roadbuilding damaged salmon streams in the past — with 240 miles of salmon habitat still blocked by failed road culverts. The Roadless Rule protects our fishing economy and more than 10,000 jobs provided by commercial fishing in Southeast Alaska.”
The Sierra Club's Forest Campaign Manager Alex Craven seemed quite upset, saying, "The Forest Service followed sound science, economic common sense, and overwhelming public support when they adopted such an important and visionary policy more than 20 years ago. Donald Trump is making it crystal clear he is willing to pollute our clean air and drinking water, destroy prized habitat for species, and even increase the risk of devastating wildfires, if it means padding the bottom lines of timber and mining companies.”
The 2025 recession proposal would apply to nearly 45 million acres of the national forests. With so many people writing in opposition to the consensus, the public has determined they don't want it to happen.
Tongass National Forest is at the center of the Trump administration's intention to roll back the 2001 Roadless Rule. You can watch an Alaska Nature Documentary about the wild salmon of Tongass National Forrest here:
- YouTube www.youtube.com
The simple truth is we elect our public officials to make decisions. The hope is they do this for all of our well-being, although often it seems they do not. Even though we don't have much power to control what government officials do, voicing our opinions strongly enough often forces them to alter their present course of action. With a unanimous public voice saying, "No!" maybe this time they will course correct as the public wishes.