[Rockhounds] The Most Beautiful Volcanoes In The World

[Axel Emmermann]

The problem is  that volcanoes change so rapidly... Going back to a volcanic
site may play tricks on the confidence that you have in your memory.
There was an eruption going on when we were in Sicily. To avert a lava flow
that was threatening villages and could even have reached Catania
eventually, the government reacted quite cleverly.
The side wall of the valley in which the flow was running was dynamited.
Then thousands of cubic meters of cold water were used to cool the front of
the flow to plug the valley that it was in.
The flow would thus be directed in a valley that had no exit that pointed
towards inhabited areas. This valley , "Valle del bove" (Valley of the
oxen?), was filled up for the greater part with an enormous volume of lava.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/mount-etna-valle-del-bove/3476863295
The video shows a shallow valley with a rather flat bottom. In 1984 this was
a much deeper V-shaped valley.
I'm not sure but I estimate that the present level is a good 100 meters
above the original level. Wild guess, of course, and my memory of it may
have faded over the past 25 years.
This photo
http://www.caimessina.it/Riferimenti/REPORTAGESfiles/REPORTAGE03/pagine/P101
0002.htm give a dramatic impression of the mind-boggling volumes of lava
that were diverted into this valley (also during later eruptions).

We walked over a 10 meters wide lava flow that was still hot. You could see
the orange flow between the broken solidified rubble that formed on it. It
was still moving too albeit slowly with a strange tinkling sound, almost
like it was made of glass.
The guide had warned us to wear solid rubber tracking shoes, not sportswear.
Still my wife and I and two others (out of a party of 20) were smart enough
to listen to his advice. We made it across while the light-footed crowd was
left behind whining and swearing ;-)))
Even with thick vulcanized rubber soles it wasn't really a walk in the park.
The heat was REALLY intense, so intense that we had to keep running even
when we were already across. You had to keep at least 5 meters between
yourself an the flow to be comfortable for a longer time.

Cheers
Axel


> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com 
> [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] Namens Kitty & 
> Bill Heacox
> Verzonden: woensdag 26 maart 2008 22:51
> Aan: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem 
> collectors
> Onderwerp: Re: [Rockhounds] The Most Beautiful Volcanoes In The World
> 
> Here's a picture taken in November 2003 in Pu'u O'o crater;  
> it's obviously different from the Pravda one, but also very similar
> 
> http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/archive/2003/Nov/2003112
> 6-0027_DAS_large.jpg
> 
> Aloha, Kitty
> 
> Kreigh Tomaszewski wrote:
> > Axel,
> >
> > I think you have solved the mystery. I found several images online 
> > from that eruption that were close enough to convince me.
> >
> > I have no doubts to your memory; seeing an erupting volcano is an 
> > unforgettable experience.
> >
> > I just hope you were not too awe struck to take pictures to share.
> >
> > Kreigh
> >   
> Axel Emmermann wrote:
> 
> This photo of "Yellowstone Volcano" looks VERY much like the 
> Bocca Nuova crater of Mount Etna on Sicily, Italy.
> 
> --
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