Jeffrey Donenfeld

Tag: volcano

  • Exploring A Shield Volcano – Jeju Island, South Korea

    Exploring A Shield Volcano – Jeju Island, South Korea

    Jeju Placement MapJeju Island, located off the tip of South Korea, is a paradise for geologists, honeymooners, and adventurers alike. I ventured to Jeju on a recommendation from a friend, as well as seeing the epic pictures of the Seongsan Ilchulbong. Jeju is a geological paradise, with interesting volcanic features such as Mt. Hallasan, an almost perfect Shield Volcanos, great examples of parasitic volcanos, the almost perfect Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone, and the largest lava tubes in the world.

    In addition to exploring the geology, I also did a bit of adventuring and sightseeing. I had a great time exploring the markets and massive underground mall in the main city of Jeju, got lost for an afternoon in a fun hedge maze, and enjoyed lots of fried chicken and beer with the local gang of korean kids staying with me in the hostel.

    Jeju should certainly be on a “must-see” list for a complete Korea vacation – but four or five days is definitely enough. Transportation around Jeju was easy – busses run around the entire island, and they’re quick and easy to find.

    Wikipedia: Jeju Province (officially the Jeju Special Autonomous Province[1]) is one of the nine provinces of South Korea. The province is situated on and coterminous with the nation's largest island of Jeju (also Jejudo), formerly transliterated as Cheju, Cheju Do, etc., or known as Quelpart to Europeans. The island lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946. Its capital is Jeju City.
    Wikipedia: Jeju Province (officially the Jeju Special Autonomous Province[1]) is one of the nine provinces of South Korea. The province is situated on and coterminous with the nation’s largest island of Jeju (also Jejudo), formerly transliterated as Cheju, Cheju Do, etc., or known as Quelpart to Europeans. The island lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946. Its capital is Jeju City.
    Silver fish dominate the fish portion of the Jeju Fish Market.
    Silver fish dominate the fish portion of the Jeju Fish Market.
    Jeju Island is known for its amazing citrus crop, and in the markets vendors display some of the most beautiful citrus I've seen.
    Jeju Island is known for its amazing citrus crop, and in the markets vendors display some of the most beautiful citrus I’ve seen.
    Koreans very much love the Fried Chicken and Beer. More than once, people invited me to have friend chicken and beer with them, and there are fried chicken and beer shops all over korea. It's a simple, tasty, but rather unhealthy meal. Still great fun! This Hite beer we were drinking comes in big 2L bottles
    Koreans very much love the Fried Chicken and Beer. More than once, people invited me to have friend chicken and beer with them, and there are fried chicken and beer shops all over korea. It’s a simple, tasty, but rather unhealthy meal. Still great fun! This Hite beer we were drinking comes in big 2L bottles
    Hiking up Mt. Halasan, the well-worn trail gives way to slick snow on the higher half of the mountain. Avid Korean hikers are quick to strap on metal mesh grips to their hiking shoes in order to navigate the snowpack.
    Hiking up Mt. Halasan, the well-worn trail gives way to slick snow on the higher half of the mountain. Avid Korean hikers are quick to strap on metal mesh grips to their hiking shoes in order to navigate the snowpack.
    Parasitic volcanos dot the Jejuan landscape all the way to the water's edge.
    Parasitic volcanos dot the Jejuan landscape all the way to the water’s edge.
    The top of Mt. Halasan.
    The top of Mt. Halasan.
    Hiking down into the forest. Fog blanketed Jeju Island frequently during my visit, and gave the whole place a sense of wonder. Very cool!
    Hiking down into the forest. Fog blanketed Jeju Island frequently during my visit, and gave the whole place a sense of wonder. Very cool!
    The entrance to the Manjanggul Cave lava tube, one of the largest lava tubes in the world. Although well developed and visited frequently, descending into the tube felt a bit like entering the tubular temple complex from the movie "Promethius".
    The entrance to the Manjanggul Cave lava tube, one of the largest lava tubes in the world. Although well developed and visited frequently, descending into the tube felt a bit like entering the tubular temple complex from the movie “Promethius”.
    Lots of attractions on Jeju are ideally suited for couples, including the Gimnyeong Maze Park. A hedge maze!
    Lots of attractions on Jeju are ideally suited for couples, including the Gimnyeong Maze Park. A hedge maze!
    Making it to the end of Gimnyeong Maze Park, Jeju
    Making it to the end of Gimnyeong Maze Park, Jeju
    Inside the lava tube, LED lights illuminate the various formations. Walking the 1km through the opened section is easy - the floor is almost perfectly flat, thanks to gravity and cooling liquid lava.
    Inside the lava tube, LED lights illuminate the various formations. Walking the 1km through the opened section is easy – the floor is almost perfectly flat, thanks to gravity and cooling liquid lava.
    Exploring deeper into the cave. The entire accessible portion is about 1km long.
    Exploring deeper into the cave. The entire accessible portion is about 1km long.
    The texture of the walls changes dramatically.
    The texture of the walls changes dramatically.
    The cave is truly amazing. From UNESCO: "The Geomunoreum lava tube system, which is regarded as the finest such cave system in the world, has an outstanding visual impact even for those experienced with such phenomena. It displays the unique spectacle of multi-coloured carbonate decorations adorning the roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls, partially covered by a mural of carbonate deposits. The fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, with its walls rising out of the ocean, is a dramatic landscape feature, and Mount Halla, with its array of textures and colours through the changing seasons, waterfalls, display of multi-shaped rock formations and columnar-jointed cliffs, and the towering summit with its lake-filled crater, further adds to the scenic and aesthetic appeal."
    The cave is truly amazing. From UNESCO: “The Geomunoreum lava tube system, which is regarded as the finest such cave system in the world, has an outstanding visual impact even for those experienced with such phenomena. It displays the unique spectacle of multi-coloured carbonate decorations adorning the roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls, partially covered by a mural of carbonate deposits. The fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, with its walls rising out of the ocean, is a dramatic landscape feature, and Mount Halla, with its array of textures and colours through the changing seasons, waterfalls, display of multi-shaped rock formations and columnar-jointed cliffs, and the towering summit with its lake-filled crater, further adds to the scenic and aesthetic appeal.”
    Sunset from the foot of the Seongsan Ilchulbong.
    Sunset from the foot of the Seongsan Ilchulbong.
    Taking the ferry to Udo Island, a quick 15 minute ferry ride.
    Taking the ferry to Udo Island, a quick 15 minute ferry ride.
    A lighthouse on the way to Udo Island
    A lighthouse on the way to Udo Island
    Sea Urchins!
    Sea Urchins!

    DSC01256-2015-03-28 Jeju-Donenfeld-1920-WM

    I woke up on my final morning in Jeju excited to witness the sunrise at the Seongsan Ilchulbong. However, after arriving at 5am, and patiently waiting for the sun to appear - nothing happened. The entire formation was socked in by heavy fog. This was the best pic I could get - of the empty viewing deck!
    I woke up on my final morning in Jeju excited to witness the sunrise at the Seongsan Ilchulbong. However, after arriving at 5am, and patiently waiting for the sun to appear – nothing happened. The entire formation was socked in by heavy fog. This was the best pic I could get – of the empty viewing deck!
    Descending the steps from the viewing deck of the Seongsan Ilchulbong. Dissapointed, but still had a good early morning hike.
    Descending the steps from the viewing deck of the Seongsan Ilchulbong. Dissapointed, but still had a good early morning hike.
    The outside of the Seongsan Ilchulbong formation.
    The outside of the Seongsan Ilchulbong formation.
  • Sunrise at Mt. Bromo

    Sunrise at Mt. Bromo

    Leg two of our journey across Java took us to the foot of Mt. Bromo, a stratovolcano that lies smoking inside the Tengger caldera. Pics.

    After a long enough drive from Mt. Ijen to the mountains surrounding Mt. Bromo, we arrived in the mountain town of Sukapura to check in to the Yoschi Hotel. Nestled high up in the mountains, our perch gave us incredible views of the surrounding fog blanketed mountains, with agricultural plantations rising up on the surrounding hillsides.

    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03133-FullWM
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8630281233/in/set-72157633195244344

    Jan and I spent the evening walking around the small farming village, and then had a quick dinner at the hotel before going to bed early. Another 3am wakeup, and we were off in our Toyota Land Cruiser towards Bromo. Notably, the mountain guides in the area have maintained an absolutely enormous fleet of old school original Toyota Land Cruisers, which are almost exclusively used on Mt. Bromo. The vehicles are in good condition, despite their age, and have fresh paint jobs. We drove through the night high up into the mountains, finally arriving pre-dawn at the Mt. Bromo overlook.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8630280489/in/set-72157633195244344
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03202-FullWM

    Since it was Easter weekend, the overlook area was packed with Indonesians on holiday. Despite the crowds, I managed to work my way to the front for a perfect view of the valley below. As the sun started to rise, the beautiful valley was revealed, with the smoking Mt. Bromo crater in the distance. The changing colors as the sun rose were beautiful, and morning air was peaceful – despite the kids all around us!

    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03190-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03228-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03268-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03335-FullWM

    More on Mt. Bromo from Wikipedia.

    Mount Bromo (Indonesian: Gunung Bromo), is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia. At 2,329 metres (7,641 ft) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia. The volcano belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The name of Bromo derived from Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu creator god.

    Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast plain called the “Sea of Sand” (Javanese: Segara Wedi or Indonesian: Lautan Pasir), a protected nature reserve since 1919. The typical way to visit Mount Bromo is from the nearby mountain village of Cemoro Lawang. From there it is possible to walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m or 9,088 ft) (Indonesian: Gunung Penanjakan). The best views from Mount Bromo to the Sand Sea below and the surrounding volcanoes are at sunrise. The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours. From inside the caldera, sulfur is collected by workers.

    Depending on the degree of volcanic activity, the Indonesian Centre for Vulcanology and Disaster Hazard Mitigation sometimes issues warnings against visiting Mount Bromo.

    2013-03-31 Bromo - IMG_2550-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - Bromo Sunrise Panorama-FullWM

    After witnessing the sunrise from our viewpoint on Mt. Penanjakan, we climbed back in the Land Cruiser and journeyed down to the Sea of Sand, which rests directly at the bast of Bromo. A quick 30 minute hike across the ash field, and we had reached the grouping of Bakso vendors, horses, and pilgrims coming to offer flowers to the mountain. Jan and I stopped for a hot bowl of Bakso, a traditional javanese meatball soup, sold out of mobile kitchens mounted on motor bikes.
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03390-FullWM
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8630278867/in/set-72157633195244344
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8631386004/in/set-72157633195244344
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03427-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03436-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03447-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03459-FullWM
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8630277111/in/set-72157633195244344

    At the top of the crater rim, we could see down into the smoking acid lake.
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8631383828/in/set-72157633195244344
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03558-FullWM
    2013-03-31 Bromo - DSC03575-FullWM