A Beautiful Hell (64 images)

The crater of the Ijen volcano in East Java produces large quantities of sulphur. More than 300 workers ascend the mountain every day to collect the thick yellow chunks of sulphur. They carry baskets weighing 70-90 kilo's 300m up to the crater rim and then down to a small processing plant on the slopes of the mountain. They earn approximately 6 Euros a day with the heavy labour. They're content with their work though. They earn a lot more than they could do in any other job in the region....
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The crater of the Ijen volcano in East Java produces large quantities of sulphur. More than 300 workers ascend the mountain every day to collect the thick yellow chunks of sulphur. They carry baskets weighing 70-90 kilo's 300m up to the crater rim and then down to a small processing plant on the slopes of the mountain. They earn approximately 6 Euros a day with the heavy labour. They're content with their work though. They earn a lot more than they could do in any other job in the region. Contrary to the expectations the contact with the sulphur fumes has no negative effect on the health of the workers. Breathing the fumes while collecting the sulphur feels like breathing tear gas. But it doesn't seem to affect the lungs, doctors confirm.

Le cratère du volcan d'Ijen dans Java-Orientale produit de grandes quantités de soufre. Plus de 300 ouvriers montent la montagne chaque jour pour rassembler les gros morceaux jaunes épais du soufre. Ils portent des paniers pesant de 70-90 kilos plus que 300m a haut, jusqu'au sommet de cratère et puis vers le bas à une petite fabrique sur les pentes de la montagne. Ils gagnent approximativement 6 euros par jour avec le travail lourd. Ils gagnent plus qu'ils pourraient dans n'importe quel autre travail dans la région. Inhalation des vapeurs est une experience comme inhaler le gaz lacrymogène. Mais il ne semble pas affecter les poumons, médecins dans la région confirment.
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