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Kawah Ijen features in this Unreal Places episode · real footage, no AI imagery

Indonesia · East Java

Kawah Ijen

A turquoise acid lake and blue fire.

Why it looks like this

  • The turquoise crater lake is one of the most acidic lakes in the world.
  • At night the crater glows with "blue fire": burning sulphur gas, one of very few places on Earth you can see it.

How to actually go

  • Blue-fire hikes start in the middle of the night; go with a guide and a proper gas mask.
  • Closures happen when gas levels are high; check conditions before you travel.

Best time: April to October (dry season).

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