Is this really Hell?
So much has now been stated about volcanoes, the features in this Jigokudani and the name “Hell Valley” assigned to this place.
I want to ask you – is it all that bad? Is it really a Hell?
Of course, there are safety concerns which necessitate barricades and enclosures, but if thought from a broader perspective, most of the tourist places do contain several barriers to keep tourists out of dangers like sharks, jellyfish, volcanoes, ice and snow, etc.
My question is a bit beyond these preventive measures. It’s about the volcanoes and magma in general.
It is well known that magma ruled the roost when the Earth was a sphere of hot rocks and metals during its young and formative years. As the Earth cooled down, magma solidified to form rocks and subsequently, fine soil on which plants grow. Magma also percolated down to the mantle and core where it stays mostly molten and hot even to this day. Sometimes, due to a plethora of factors, magma erupts or reaches very close to the surface. The erupted magma becomes lava which causes devastation of property, sometimes even killing life which encounters it.
There are however two sides to this coin. Volcanoes do cause destruction without doubt. But the same volcanoes emit ash and lava which later solidify and weather out to give rise to immensely fertile soil which can grow crops with bare minimum requirement of artificial fertilisers. Volcanic soil is known to produce some of the finest grapes and rice for wine and sake respectively in many regions of the world. Fertile volcanic runoff in the oceans give rise to kelp with high umami content and prized globally, which grows just off the coast of Hokkaido. Volcanic heat also can be harnessed to create electricity in geothermal power plants. Volcanoes also cause water to pool in to form hot springs or onsens with medicinal values.
So, I again ask, is this really Hell? I think on the contrary.
Though the past cannot be buried forever, the entities from the past which resurface can also be beneficial. The entities in the annals of the Earth can be akin to Pandora’s box – which feature a plethora of troubles as well as hope to combat and win against such troubles. The Earth’s geological past gave us fossil fuels. The same can offer to us geothermal energy which has the power to end the dominance of fossil fuels and provide carbon-free, clean and abundant energy.
In many forms does the past return. In many ways do the entities from the past live. And in many ways, they can be of great help.
The Egyptian proverb of resurrection does fit well to describe the forces of nature at work over here. Indeed the part of the crust pushed below the earth’s surface resurrects as magma and solidifies on the earth’s surface, to repeat the cycle of life. It brings destruction on one hand and blessing on the other. Quite similar to the portrayal of the chaotic Mr. Hyde as well as the calmness depicted by Dr. Jekyll, as referenced to earlier in this blog post.
There is blessing even in the ferocity of the volcanoes. This is the one of the many paradoxes of Japan which make it so blessed and beautiful – where ferocity and blessings coexist harmoniously. Just like advanced science and culture coexist harmoniously.
Visit Japan and be enthralled.
I hope that this pure gold of a place in Japan has intrigued you and has made you consider paying a visit to this place. Noboribetsu was an outworldly experience for me for sure.
Traveling is not just about clicking a few selfies in front of the biggies – it is the experience which counts the most. Some of those sought after experiences may be discovering or traveling to a relatively unknown place offering a diverse set of things to see, do and learn. Traveling should be sustainable and help the local economy as much as possible. That’s one big reason behind my travels and the purpose behind my blog.
Set your inner Avengers free, go out and explore the uncliche..
Thank you for being patiently there supporting my content. Stay tuned for more content.
Appreciate your comments, views, likes and shares.
ありがとうございます / Arigatou Gozaimasu
© Abirbhav Mukherjee. All the pictures / videos posted in this article are my own unless otherwise mentioned.
A Quest for the Uncliche 
Nice post on volcanoes which is educational too about its benefits
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Thank you.. 🙂 Hoped you liked the pictures and videos too.. 🙂
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Wow! What a beautiful and well written post! The formation of our planet is fascinating! Magma can give life but can also take it back! A double sided coin! Despite its name it’s a wonderful and interesting valley to visit! A bit scary but really fascinating! I’ve never visited Japan yet, but is on my travel bucket 😉
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Thank you so much for your visit and your comment.. 🙂 Indeed, magma is a double sided coin, which I tried to bring forth through various literary references… Glad that you are considering a visit to this wonderful place and the equally mesmerising Japan.. 🙂
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The photos are captivating. Would not say Hell because unless you step you won’t know the true nature of mother earth. Rightly said ‘explore the uncliche’. Dante, a poet famous who wrote Inferno. Inferno, the word depicts fire and hell and I have read and watched the movie; ‘Inferno’ by Dan Brown, which has my head filled with its scenes. The movie is made from the book.
Reference to Dante makes it a mystical place. The wonders of Earth are hidden and stepping onto them and sharing them with others is a beautiful idea. Keep exploring and let us see the other side of nature as well.
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Thank you for such an elaborate and wonderful comment.. 🙂
Well, as I would like to say, and I think I did, there are two aspects to this place – Blessing and Hell.. The aspect of benign or malicious resurrection (from the depths of the Earth), the depiction of both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – all those point towards the harmonious existence of both sides of the coin.. and Dante, with his work “Inferno” was an apt parallel, in my opinion..
This is the “mystical” aspect of Japan.. 🙂 More are there, more to come.. Thank you once again.. 🙂
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Agree with you. Oh more sounds you have a load to share and amaze your readers. Superb! Keep going and inspiring and motivating us 🙂
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So sweet of you for providing your encouragement.. 🙂
Indeed, there is more content to share.. Much has already been shared.. 🙂 some heartfelt, some informative, but hope to bring people’s attention towards the undiscovered gems of countries.. 🙂 Thank you once again..
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All the best!
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Forgot to mention, loved the Resurrection proverb – so apt.
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Thank you once again.. 🙂
Great that you caught this proverb and could relate to the “resurrection” phenomenon in figurative and literal sense.. 🙂
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Did you also catch the reference to Dr. Jekyll?? If you notice deeply, the split personality of Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde has similarity to the phenomena described here – literally
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I did indeed. 😉
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A great write-up and lead-in to the rest of this fascinating post!
Really enjoyed this read.
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Thank you so much.. 😊 I was just scared to experiment with dark overtures, but thanks for your patience and feedback 😊
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No, I believe you need to write about whatever you feel like writing about… 😉
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Agreed.. 🙂 Thank you for your vote.. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your idea and so amazing. Anita
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Most welcome.. 😊 Thanks for visiting and sharing your feedback.. 😊
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I love your intro! Why not throw some philosophy in with your history and geology? Love it!
Volcanos are fascinating. Glad you got up close and personal.
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Thank you so much 😊
Glad to have the expert review from the adventurer herself.. 😊
Now, I know a bit about geology of this place, but history? I am a bit unaware of it as of now.. so sorry..
But yes, the article intertwined the philosophy with geology for sure and the past refers to the geological past 😊
Glad you like volcanoes and hope you explore one soon, but safely.. 😊
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Anything geological is truly fascinating. I love old cities and ancient ruins, but a good geological story will get me every time.
It’s so nice that you write what you feel, so when you look back you can capture not only how it looked, but how it felt for you. Those are precious memories.
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Thanks a lot again for your appreciation.. 😊😊
Both of us share the same fascination to geology.. I am sure you will enjoy hiking across Japan 🇯🇵
Equally elated to know that the horror overtures in the beginning of the post, the reference to Mummies and Dr. Jekyll didn’t scare you off.
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