17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Sulfur production

Crater of Ijen volcano. Sulfuric steam beats from under the ground, eventually forming "stalactites" chunks of sulfur. Workers, like many years ago, manually beat these pieces and lift them from the crater of the volcano, first to the edge, and then lower them to the valley where they sell their booty. Very hard and hellish work with very dangerous consequences for health, the average age of workers hardly reaches 45 years. But, anyway, this is considered a very prestigious job, by local standards very profitable (about 20-30 dollars a day).

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2019
Date Uploaded: 10.2019
Photo Location: Banyuwangi, Indonesia
Camera: NIKON D750
Copyright: © Yuri Budilnikov