4. The Volcano That Erupted With Blue Lava
Indonesia’s Kawah Ijen volcano stunned the world when nighttime hikers filmed glowing blue “lava” spilling down its slopes. The neon rivers looked more like CGI than geology, illuminating the darkness in electric color.
The effect comes from sulfuric gases igniting as they escape volcanic vents, burning at extremely high temperatures. Miners harvesting sulfur nearby appeared as silhouettes against the glow, adding scale — and danger — to the scene. The footage went viral for its alien beauty, proving volcanic eruptions can produce visuals as mesmerizing as they are deadly.