Fire from the Earth

21/02/2010 Article

For sunset it is time to drive up to the crater of the Volcano at Mt. Yasur, the most accessible active volcano in the world. Jack drives the Land Rover across the large sand flat at the base of the volcano at full speed and everyone is screaming for joy, mixed with a bit of fear…

racing around the volcano

It takes only a 5 minute walk to be a the crater rim and to see the glowing lava in the crater, some grey steaming sulphur clouds and every few minutes an impressive firework of glowing magma shooting out of the crater high up in the sky.

right at the crater rim, toxic vapour rising, waiting for the next explosion

This volcano is powerful and very much alive, rumbling loudly, earth vibrating, spitting rocks and lava and exploding and putting on a magnificent fireworks display for us. This is from all volcano experiences the most impressive nature experience, which shows us again the power of nature and the relative insignificance of us human beings. We are so close to flying lava rocks that we watch each explosion closely in case we need to take a dive to evade another piece. Massive dark clouds of toxic steam drift towards us, and somehow the wind saves us again. Surely, in the safety and fear-driven Western societies, government bodies would not have allowed us anywhere near this rumbling mountain. Here in Vanuatu, it is no problem, the intensity of the experience is worth the risk (1 to 2 visitors get hit by rocks every year).