Geologic sites in Hokkaido, northern part of Japan
Volcano Esan in Hakodate-shi

Hokkaido is one of the Japan's main islands. The district is richly endowed with nature including subarctic forest, lakes, rivers and then volcanoes.

Molten sulfur in the fumarole in volcano Esan located in the southern part of Hokkaido.
The fumarole emits high temperature gas as hot as 128 degrees celsius. The sulfure starts to melt at 119 degrees, so in the fumarole sulfure has melted and brown liquid sulfur can be seen.

Sulfur is contained in the volcanic gas and as it is ejected, small crystals of sulfur are sublimated around the fumarole to build a sulfur tower.

This sulfur tower seemed to be higher before. However, later gas temperature got higher and solid sufur inside of it started to melt and molten sulfur sank into the ground.

The location of volcano Esan is southern part of Hokkaido. The fumarole is at the + at the center of this map. N41degree48'26.6" E141degree9'38.4"

Volcano Esan has been severely eroded into almost half the original moutain body. It emit huge amount of acid gas and rocks has been decayed into white weathered silt or sand which is easily eroded.