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SULPHUR MINERS OF KAWAH IJEN

In East Java, Indonesia lies Kawah Ijen volcano, 2,600 meters tall (8,660ft), topped with a large caldera where miners extract sulphur. — KawahIjenMiner

Working above the clouds. — KawahIjenJavaIndonesiaMinersky

The landscape changes the closer to the Ijen crater. — KawahIjenminer

A difficult path leads to the heart of the volcano. — KawahIjenminer

Inside of the Ijen crater. — KawahIjenworker

The quietly active volcano emits gases through fumaroles inside the crater which are highly toxic. Some miners don't wear any protection at all. — KawahIjenminersulphurvolcano

By the 200-meter-deep lake of sulfuric acid, miners hammer out a living in the noxious sulphur fumes which expose them to a high risk of respiratory diseases. — KawahIjenworkervolcano

Toxic fumes coming out of the crater, miners go down to the bottom to extract sulphur. — KawahIjen

The cooled sulphur is broken into large pieces, loaded into baskets and carried by hand from the crater floor to the weighing station. — KawahIjen

A single load can weigh from 45 to 90kg, and a miner might make as many as two or three trips in a day from the volcano to the station. — KawahIjenminersulphurbasketsportrait

A heavy load carried upon miners' shoulders. — KawahIjensulphur

Some of the men have highly deformed shoulders from carrying such heavy loads. Many do the trip barefoot or wearing only cheap flip-flops. — KawahIjenportrait

A cigarette brake on the way to the weighing station.

The weighing point at the camp. — KawahIjen

The sulfur is used in the industry for vulcanizing rubber, bleaching sugar and other industrial processes. At the station, sulphur is sold to tourists as a souvenir. — KawahIjen

Miners' house at the weighing station. — KawahIjenminer'shouse

Sleeping boxes in the shared house. — KawahIjenminer'shouse

In a house at the camp nearby the Ijen crater. The protection masks are very uncomfortable and therefore seldom worn. — KawahIjenminergasmask

In a kitchen at the weighing camp. Although it's a sunny day, only a small amount of light gets into the house. — KawahIjenminer'shouseinsidekitchen

Kitchen utensils. — KawahIjenminer'shousekitchenutensils

In a vestibule. — KawahIjenportrait

A miner in his kitchen after a long working day. — KawahIjenminer'shouseinside

Living conditions at the camp are very basic. — KawahIjenJavaminer'shouse

A small shop at the station offering solely instant soups and bottled water. — KawahIjenminer'sshop

Living room and bedroom at the same time. — KawahIjenworkerhousebedroomportrait

Resting. — KawahIjen Javaportrait

After work. — KawahIjenminer'shouseinsidekitchen

In East Java, Indonesia lies Kawah Ijen volcano, 2,600 meters tall (8,660ft), topped with a large caldera where miners extract sulphur. By the 200-meter-deep lake of sulfuric acid, miners hammer out a living in the noxious sulphur fumes which expose them to a high risk of respiratory diseases.