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Space travelling from El Teide

Visiting Tenerife's volcano at the Canary Islands

Aug. 21, 2018
On Tenerife you'll find Teide, the world's second highest volcano with extra terestial views and a perfect altitude for stargazing.

This summer holiday brought me to Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands, Spain. It's a popular destination because of the climate, but it's also the home of Teide, the world's second highest volcano (7500 m, measured from the sea floor). The incredible views reach way beyond earth, into outer space, the Milky Way and other distant galaxies.

Climbing Mount Etna

Visiting an active volcano on Sicily, Italy

Sep. 2, 2017
Climbing Mount Etna, an active volcano on Sicily Italy.

Last week me and my wife went to Sicily for a little summer holiday. It is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an autonomous region of Italy, along with surrounding minor islands. It's home to Europe's largest active volcano: Mount Etna. We had a chance to visit this lava spurring monstrosity and it was quite the experience.

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Driving above the clouds
Driving above the clouds
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
The Las Cañadas caldera on top of Teide, as seen from the International Space Station (public domain)
The Las Cañadas caldera on top of Teide, as seen from the International Space Station (public domain)
Shadow of a Martian... of sorts :-)
Shadow of a Martian... of sorts :-)
The higher you get the rougher the terrain becomes
The higher you get the rougher the terrain becomes
El Palmar in the valley between Monte del Agua and the Teno mountains
El Palmar in the valley between Monte del Agua and the Teno mountains
The summit of Mount Etna
The summit of Mount Etna
An overview of the craters - notice how it is kept up to date :-)
An overview of the craters - notice how it is kept up to date :-)
The Los Gigantes are really unbelievable in their dimensions, you'll feel like a tiny human on the twisty roads.
The Los Gigantes are really unbelievable in their dimensions, you'll feel like a tiny human on the twisty roads.
Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Teide seen from my iPhone
Teide seen from my iPhone
The white/yellow on the Etna summit is sulphite - not gold... according to our guide
The white/yellow on the Etna summit is sulphite - not gold... according to our guide
Relaxing in the pool
Relaxing in the pool
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
The view is spectacular.
The view is spectacular.

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