Before sunrise in 1989, the hike through an extensive caldera to Gunung Bromo, a 2329 m high stratovolcano on the Indonesian island of Java, began. We had spent the night in the small town on the outer edge of the caldera and were excited to see the volcanic cones of the Bromo, Penanjakan and the Semeru. Bromo is a very active volcano that knows how to surprise with sudden eruptions and therefore requires great caution from its visitors.
We crossed the caldera by foot and the unusual landscape created a strange atmosphere, so that even dinosaurs between the volcanic cones would not have surprised.
The altitude also took its toll, so climbing the crater was no walk in the park. Other visitors used hired horses to facilitate parts of the ascent.
This excursion made a great impression on us and sparked our interest in volcanism.
