How About Some Blue Lava...?

To tell the truth, I really don't like the idea of being around ANY lava, no matter what the color is. Just doesn't hold any interest for me.

I'll admit that it's probably pretty to look at, but I'll be just as happy looking at the pictures...thank you very much!

Blue Lava

Photo credit: National Geographic

One of the most destructive occurrences in our world is the explosion of a volcano. But in Indonesia, the Kawah Ijen crater on the island of Java appears to spout blue lava instead of the traditional yellow and orange tones we are all used to.

The most interesting part is the confusion this produces. The lava is not inherently blue. Instead, this event is produced by the combustion of a high concentration of sulfur in the area of the volcano. When sulfur ignites, it burns with a blue flame. So when the high concentration of sulfur comes in contact with the lava, the lava appears to turn blue.

In reality, it’s only the blue flames from the sulfur flowing down the mountain. That’s why this effect only appears at night.

Nature can sure surprise us, either in a good way or a bad one. I prefer to take the good, I reckon.

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. It's raining outside.