From the shores of Marum’s lake of fiery lava, trek with Willy, a local guide, across the lava plains, down the volcano’s steep side to the black sand beaches of the Pacific coast.
Lava Lake at Marum Crater
This is the heart of Marum crater on the island of Ambrym in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Here, at roughly 100 meters wide, a lake of molten lava bubbles and splashes, day and night. It gives off tremendous heat and a plume of toxic gases, so it can only be visited by experts using special safety equipment.
Marum’s Lava Lake
Located at the very bottom of the Marum caldera, this is one of only 5 open lava lakes in the world. It has been active since the early 1990s.
Fumarole in Marum Crater
The lava lake is not the only outlet for volcano’s pressure. Dotted around the floor of the crater are fumaroles - vents in the rock that allow steam and sulphurous gases to escape.
Marum Crater Wall
The wall of Marum crater is about 300m high. In some places, it is a vertically sheer cliff.
Marum Crater
This is a view from the lip of Marum Crater. While the lava lake bubbles and boils below, the lip of Marum Crater affords an expansive view of the central plains of Ambrym Island.
Cinder Cone
This cinder cone was once the site of another active crater called Marumliglar. Dormant now, the cinder cone rises above the surrounding plain and can be used as a landmark to orient yourself.
Volcanic Plume
Marum is one of several volcanoes on Ambrym Island, and one of many in Vanuatu. Here we can see the large plume of toxic gas rising from the lava lake and crater floor below.
Adventurer Base Camp
In the distance we see the base camp of the adventurers that captured the imagery of the lava lake. The yellow and white tents are sleeping quarters, the green tents are the mess tent (right) and a latrine (left).
The Lava Plain
The center of Ambrym island is dominated by plains of hardened lava. The lava is basaltic in composition, which makes it less viscous and able it to flow further. The lava flows that cover the slope of the volcano exhibit an undulating morphology that is the result of different flow and emplacement processes, and has been further enhanced by erosion.
Ambrym’s Lava Flows
Formed from eruptions of centuries past, this lava plain has been carved up by gullies created by rainwater. These small grasses are the first sign of life during the hike from Marum crater to the Pacific Ocean. They survive in the harsh volcanic soil and are kept alive by the frequent tropical rains.
Marum Crater Peak
Marum crater rises steeply from the otherwise flat lava plain. Marum and it’s neighbor crater, called Benbow, are the two active volcanos on the island of Ambrym.
The Jungles of Ambrym
Once we’ve passed across the lava fields, Willy leads us down the mountainside into the lush jungles of Ambrym. These tropical rainforests are thick with vegetation and home to many plants and animals.
Local Guides
Local guides like Willy are not only recommended, they’re required on Ambrym! This jungle shows how easy it would be to get lost if you’re not familiar with the island. Guides like Willy ensure that visitors are kept safe and know where they’re going.
Forest Undergrowth
A tropical Pacific rainforest has many species of plants and several distinct layers. Here we can see the thick undergrowth of the forest floor.
Tropical Palm Trees
Towering above the forest floor, these palm trees are a feature of Pacific rainforests.
The Shoreline of Ambrym
Having reached the shores of the Pacific ocean, our guide Willy leads us along the beautiful beaches of Ambrym. Unlike the beaches you might be familiar with, Ambrym has beaches made of black sand.
Lava vs. Ocean
The black sand is produced by erosion of the lava rock that makes up the island. One violent source of these particles comes from hot lava flows reaching the ocean where it is rapidly quenched and fragmented.
The Road to Town
Once off the beach, Willy guides us along the road into Endu village. These villagers from Endu are the first that we encounter in our trek from the lava lake to the village. They are out gathering food such as coconuts for their cooking.
Vanuatuan cuisine incorporates fish, root vegetables (e.g., taro and yams), fruits (e.g., papayas, pineapples and mangoes), and vegetables (plantains and sweet potatoes). These foods grow abundantly and most island families also grow gardens, so food shortages are rare.
Coconut Palm
Here coconuts are hanging high up in a palm tree. Villagers will collect coconuts from oth on the tree and the ground below, and make use of the shells and the water and “meat” inside. Coconuts are an essential ingredient to many Vanuatuan dishes. Coconut cream is used as part of “laplap”, the national dish.
Traditional Endu Pahakol Village
Endu is one of several villages on Ambrym. The Chief, Miles Moses, has spent decades building his village into a place welcoming to visitors and capable of hosting outsiders while retaining traditional cultures and ways of life.
Traditional Thatch Hut
Many of the houses in Endu are still built the traditional way using materials harvested and collected from the forests nearby. It often rains heavily. With a house raised off of the ground, rain water will not come inside. Having a raised floor also makes it easier to keep the house clean and can help keep out insects and animals.
Modern Endu Pahakol Village
Whilst Endu has maintained many of its traditional values, it also contains some modern artifacts such as a state built school. The local community also shares their way of life with visiting tourists groups who come to this South-East corner of the Ambrym on tours.
Endu Elementary School
Here we see the local elementary school, which serves Endu and the surrounding areas.
Village Square
The area around the school serves as the community’s village square. The sticks in the ground are goal posts for playing soccer.
Water Tank
Rainwater is an important part of the water supply. Rain is collected via the roof guttering, and then funnelled and stored inside an enclosed tank.
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