Prepare to be mesmerized by the stunning photographs captured inside the world-renowned “door to hell”. Located in Afar, Ethiopia, this massive lava lake boasts temperatures that consistently exceed 1100 degrees Celsius. This natural wonder has been a consistently active volcano since 1906 and is commonly referred to as the “smoking” mountain due to its glowing mouth whenever the lava rises. Unfortunately, this majestic spectacle has also claimed lives as well. The last major eruption occurred in September 2005, where 250 people lost their lives, and in 2007 two individuals went missing. Despite these tragedies, the lava lake remains an awe-inspiring sight and continues to erupt even today.
According to Santos, the Erta Ale crater is always active and has a constant flow of lava that can overflow at any time, making it very dangerous. The lava is incredibly hot and has the potential to melt everything in its path. To take photos of the crater, Santos had to use a drone and be cautious of the intense heat. He had to position himself close to the controls of the drone while being patient and careful. Every few minutes, there would be a hissing sound, and a fissure would appear, leaving him breathless. Witnessing the lava explosion was like watching a spectacular fireworks display.
For more than a hundred years, the lava lake has been displaying its non-stop activity.
The heat wave produced by the lake can be extremely intense, with temperatures soaring as high as 1100 degrees Celsius.
At any given moment, there’s a possibility of hazardous crevices emerging near the lava lake.
Molten lava bursts out of the volcano’s crater with great intensity.
Throughout history, volcanic eruptions have caused various catastrophic incidents.
Santos, the photographer, had to utilize a drone to capture these captivating images.
The region encompassing the mountain is known to be one of the most scorching spots on the planet due to its arid desert climate.
From a bird’s-eye view, an image captured from above displays the crater in all its glory.
