Welirang is a 3160m high volcano near Surabaya in East Java. This is a series of photos showing the mountain and the men who mine sulfur from the fumaroles near the top of the volcano. The sulfur is collected by construting rock tunnels which help to condense the sulfur so it can be collected as a solid from about 15 "kitchens". The miners then put the sulfur into bags and carry it down the mountain with the help a wooden hand-carts. Each load is about 100kg with a maximum of 150kg. It is a tough life and most of the miners are young men. Struggling with 100kg or more down a steep mountain must take its toll on bones and tendons. The volcanic gases, fine dust and almost universal smoking must also do great damage to lungs. In spite of this the workers seemed happy enough. The view is amazing and they do get to work for themselves at their own pace, but at 2,300rp (A$3) for each 100kg, they aren't going to get rich. They can do 2 loads a day, so that makes about A$6 per day.
Source from www.worldisround.com
