Mount Bromo, Stratovolcano in East Java, Indonesia.
Mount Bromo rises to 2329 meters (7641 feet) within the Tengger Caldera and continuously releases white sulfur smoke from its active crater. The volcano sits in the middle of a sandy plain that visitors cross on foot or by jeep to reach the base of the cone.
The volcanic formation began 820,000 years ago and led through several eruption phases to the creation of the current caldera measuring 16 kilometers across. The last major eruption occurred in 2016 and forced residents of surrounding villages to evacuate temporarily.
Once a year during the full moon, Tengger worshippers gather at dawn for the Yadnya Kasada ceremony and throw rice, vegetables and flowers into the crater as offerings. Pilgrims walk through the night to reach the rim before sunrise, bringing their prayers to Sang Hyang Widhi in a tradition passed down through many generations.
Visitors reach the volcano through the town of Cemoro Lawang, where jeeps depart regularly to cross the sandy plain. Warm clothing is advisable, as temperatures before sunrise often drop below 5 degrees Celsius and wind at the crater rim can be strong.
A stone stairway with 241 steps leads from the base of the cone directly to the crater rim, where sulfur deposits color the edge yellow. Visitors can hear the rumbling of the magma chamber below their feet during calm weather, accompanied by the hissing of escaping gases.
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