Continental drift en miniature – The lava lake of Erta Ale
A lake of lava is truly something unique and cannot be found everywhere on our planet and standing on the edge of such a gate to the earth’s bowels is even for volcanologists a fascinating spectacle. Currently only a fistful of volcanoes host an active lava lake and reaching them is often quite a challenge. In Ethiopia’s Danakil depression perhaps the most majestic and mystic one can be seen, the lava lake of Erta Ale »»
Dusting pointless… On the go through the Danakil desert
The debate about the hottest place on Earth is presumably as old as humanity itself. People believing their bedroom among the top 10 of those places will be disappointed when hearing about places like Ethiopia’s Danakil desert, where the sun begins to singe everything having a heartbeat while at 9:30 in the morning West Europeans get ready to enjoy their second breakfast. April is actually one of the worst months to travel the Danakil, as with small nasty gusts and unbelievable top temperatures of up to ~65 degrees Celsius in the African sun the desert unmistakably makes clear who’s the king of the hill here »»
Dallol – Like on a different star
Dallol is the lowest volcanically active spot on Earth’s mainland and to boot Danakil’s hottest place. Not only oven-like air is holding a meeting there, also several chemically enriched pools and its richly coloured salts are courting your retina’s favour. If there’s acidic water pouring out of the ground to your feet and the surrounding air becomes sometimes pretty smelly and corrosive, then it doesn’t sound neither appealing nor inviting. Though visitors of this worldwide unique geothermal highlight will be rewarded with a visual firework of colours, forms and phantasy »»
Tourist Battle at the Tengger Caldera
The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park is one of Indonesia’s major sights and destination of not a few busses. You can literally start your travel to the Bromo from every of the country’s bigger cities. Writing that, the main reason why the Tengger caldera isn’t an unhurried place already got spoken out. It is really hard to escape from the touristic bustle and at the latest the plastic bag flooded crater bowl of the Bromo will put you off… The most frequented spot is at the same time the highest peak around: Gunung Penanjakan. From there every morning about 200-300 tourists try to watch the magic colourful sunrise. However, doing so can also lead into quite ugly situations… »»
The yellow Hell of the Ijen and the Soldiers of Sulphur
For many people coming to terms with a globalized everyday life became quite an essential daily task. In the East of the Indonesian island of Java, at the Ijen volcano (Kawah Ijen) to be more precise, courageous men are ruining their health day by day. To make their living, everyone literally transforms into a hell of a guy, when wresting the yellow gold from the fumaroles in a height of 2400 meters. And also for me visiting the Kawah Ijen and its acid lake should mean a test of mettle »»
The Crater Lakes of Mount Kelimutu
The multi-coloured crater lakes of the Kelimutu volcano are truly the biggest touristic highlights the Indonesian island of Flores has on offer. To get there, needs some talent for spontaneity, especially in low season. It doesn’t matter where you start your travel, if in Ende, Maumere or Moni, travellers are most welcome; helping them is a matter of importance for the locals »»
Fireworks on the other Side of the World – The Yasur volcano on Tanna/Vanuatu
Passing the Immigration and getting one’s passport checked is actually the same everywhere in the world: a more or less bored grumpy officers stamp the ink seal uninterestedly into one’s travel document. The welcome at the doorstep of the island republic of Vanuatu is different. Friendliness is the most normal thing in the world and the Chief can also acclaim you with an “Ey man, you got a really nice watch!” – Being located eastern of Australia and well over 16.000km far away from European homeland, the Vanuatu archipelago is home of one of the most active and magic fire mountains in the world: the Yasur »»
Whooper Swans and Volcanoes – The Northeast of Iceland
Iceland’s fourth biggest town Akureyri is the gate to the island’s spectacular Northeast. Highlights like the majestic Goðafoss, the still pretty active Krafla volcanic region are waiting to indulge your senses as well as the picturesque town of Húsavík. Being located on a wide bay and on the opposite side of snow-covered peaks, it is offering the best opportunities for whale watching in Iceland »»