Volcanoes of Indonesia

Book excerpt: As part of the Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the most volcanic countries on earth. The archipelago is home to many dormant volcanoes as well as some of the most violent volcanoes on the planet; the infamous Mt Merapi in Java erupts at least once a decade, often with devastating effects. Most people are aware of the destruction that volcanoes are capable of causing but few stop to consider how beneficial they are to the environment and population. Indonesia's ability to grow crops and sustain its population is in large part thanks to fertile volcanic soil. The country's volcanoes have literally and figuratively shaped the nation. In his approximately 25 years living in Indonesia, photographer Carl-Bernd Kaehlig has climbed many of these monster mountains and learnt the myths and legends surrounding them from his local guides. Volcanoes of Indonesia: Creators and Destroyers is a mesmerising collection of Kaehlig's best photographs, which are accompanied by informative captions and an introductory essay that gives the reader a sense of the importance of these mountains.