I was in a ravine once. I was after destroying a mob spawner. I was mining some coal when i suddenly was luanched off the edge of the top of the ravine. I landed in lava. I was like 'WTF?!?!?!?!?'. No zombie or skeleton could knock you back that far. I had short render distance at the moment (don't know why) and i could barely see the lava. Very strange.