Volcano abseiling: The ultimate extreme sport
Abseiling into the depths of fire
For most people abseiling alone is enough of an adrenaline buzz.
But not for these daredevils who have taken abseiling to new extremes by descending into the jaws of a live volcano.
The men set up their abseiling equipment at the top of the volcano before lowering themselves hundreds of feet down the inside of the crater.
Crackles and pops can be heard as the ferocious volcanoes simmer threateningly below them.
Volcano abseiling has to be done with silver heat-proof suits to ensure that they can withstand the intense heat generated by the volcano's lava.
And the extreme sports enthusiasts need heavy duty oxygen canisters because the air above the spewing lava contains so many toxic volcanic gases.
Crackles and pops can be heard as the ferocious volcano simmers threateningly just several years after it last erupted
One volcano abseiling video that has become an internet sensation was filmed volcanologist Geoff Mackley at the remote Marum volcano on Ambrym Island in the South Pacific Ocean.
Geoff and his team set up their equipment on the lip of the active Marum volcano - which is classified as highly dangerous and is constantly sending plumes of volcanic ash more than a mile high over the island.
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Official warnings tell visitors to observe the volcano from a distance, well away from the crater.
The volcano sits in the ring of fire and is one of the most dangerous in the world. It actually erupted several years ago and is capable of erupting again in the near future.
Islanders even believe that the volcano is the place where they begin a fiery descent into the afterlife when they have died.
Volcanologists agree that the people are able to perform volcano abseiling and even walk right up to the stream of hot lava.
However, volcano abseiling should only ever be attempted by people who have studied volcanoes for many years. It is also a very expensive sport as the travel costs of reaching the often remote volcanoes can be very high.
Volcano abseilers must also first be very comfortable with the use of climbing ropes and be used to abseiling down rock faces and buildings. Descending into a volcano should only ever be attempted with very experienced volcano abseilers, too.
