Amazing photographs captures world's largest lava lake and 'firework eruptions' on active volcanoes.
By Sara Malm
As the rocks cool on creating a mosaic of black and red a team of scientists brave the high temperatures in their search for answers to the secrets of what happens below the surface of the Earth.
The molten stone forms the world’s largest lava lake on the Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These incredible images were taken by a daredevil photographer who joined the research team on their journey to Congo and Italy and Mount Etna enduring temperatures of over 1100 degrees Celsius (2000 degrees Fahrenheit).
Sizzling: Molten rock cools and forms plates on the surface of the worlds largest lava lake at Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As the molten rock cools on the surface they form moving plates which cover the lake although the red-hot lava can still be seen in the cracks.
Solid: Despite the extreme heat a member of the scientific expedition is brave enough to walk on Nyiragongos cooled lava floor.
Thrill seeker Carsten Peter, 53 stood just inches away from the fiery mouths of the world’s most active volcanoes to take these sizzling shots showing fire work eruptions, flowing lava and life in the camps on the edge of the liquid rocks.
And despite being on the edge of the world's largest lava lake at Nyiragongo and witnessing fountains of lava on Etna darting several hundred metres in the air - Carsten achieved stunning results.
His images capture bright orange jets of lava exploding like fireworks in the sky and the silhouettes of those scientists who dared to collect samples, while standing just yards from falling lava.
The night sky on Sicily is lit up by a firework-like lava explosion as Mount Etna, one of the world's most famous active volcanoes, erupts.
Brave science: The scientists stand dangerously close to the edge whilst observing the behaviour of active volcanoes during the research trip to Congo and Italy.
They also show every day life in the camps on the edges of the lava lake and the scientists preparing their dinner outside their tents inside the mountain.
Daredevil Carsten said he got a real thrill from witnessing and photographing volcanic eruptions.
‘I started photographing volcanoes out of curiosity and gradually became more and more interested.
Danger: Fiery lava is flunged tens of feet up in the air splashes down Mount Etna on the island of Sicily, Italy.
Contrasts: The bright orange and red liquid lava and and molten lava stands out next to the background of the grey cooled mountain.
The 53-year-old added: ‘It's an unbelievable force, you feel so little in comparison. I like the feeling of being exposed to the forces of nature.
‘I try to visit as many volcanoes as possible.
‘I can spend weeks at a time on a volcano. I try to stay as long as I can to observer the volcanic activity.’
The daredevil group pitched their cooking tent on the edge overlooking the lava lake of Nyiragongo one of the worlds most active volcanoes.
Dangerous tests: A volcanologist testing a thermal suit near molten lava, a great risk which has to be taken to ensure the team's security.
A geologist silhouetted by glowing lava at Mount Etna. The molten rocks hit over 2000 degrees Farenheit (1100 degrees Celsius) and were studied by the geology scientists during an expedition to live volcanoes.
Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe, at 10,922 ft and the most active one out of the three active Italian volcanoes.
Nyraigongo is located inside Virunga National Park in central Congo. Together with Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40 per cent of all volcanic eruptions in African history.
Photographer Carsten Peter adjusts his camera while Etna erupts in the background. The 53-year-old has travelled the world taking pictures of active volcanoes.
Life at high temperature: A member of the scientific research team prepares dinner near his tent inside Nyiragongo volcano.
A picture taken by Carsten Peter from inside his tent as a man cooks a meal outside in Nyiragongo volcano in Congo.
Amazing photographs captures world's largest lava lake and...
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