Volcanic sacrifice at sulfur mine

Miners carry a goat head for burial as part of an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 17, 2013.

The ritual is performed by the sulfur miners of Mount Ijen who slaughter a goat and then bury the head in the mountain's crater. The sacrifice is performed to ward off potential disasters for the next year.

The Ijen is one of the world's largest craters. Sulfur mining is a major industry in the region, made possible by an active vent at the edge of a lake, but the work is not without risks as the acidity of the water in the crater is high enough to dissolve clothing and cause breathing problems.

Ijen volcano

A sulfur miner carries a goat head in a white bag as he climbs to bury it in the crater as part of an annual offering ceremony Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A miner carries sulfur during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A miner uses a pole to extract sulfur from a pipe at the flow crater during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A miner uses a pole to extract sulfur from a pipe at the flow crater during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A miner extracts sulfur from a pipe at the flow crater during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A miner uses a pole to extract sulfur from pipe at the flow crater during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A sulfur miner looks at the crater as the prepares to bury a goat head as part of an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

Miners carry a goat head for burial in the crater as part of an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

Miners carry a goat head for burial in the crater as part of an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

Miners carry a goat head for burial in the crater as part of an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

A miner carries sulfur during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

Miners carry a goat head for burial in the crater as part of an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.

Ijen volcano

Miners extract sulfur from a pipe at the flow crater during an annual offering ceremony at the Ijen volcano Dec. 17, 2013.