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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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Lateral crater from 2001 - but if you look closely you'll notice many additional craters further below
Lateral crater from 2001 - but if you look closely you'll notice many additional craters further below
ESA's fast-moving Heavy Duty Planetary Rover (HDPR) at Teide (credit: ESA)
ESA's fast-moving Heavy Duty Planetary Rover (HDPR) at Teide (credit: ESA)
Teide seen from my iPhone
Teide seen from my iPhone
Radar image from NASA showing the Teide volcano on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (Wikimedia Commons)
Radar image from NASA showing the Teide volcano on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (Wikimedia Commons)
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
My space mobile, a Citroën C1 rental car...
My space mobile, a Citroën C1 rental car...
Not your typical busses. These 4x4 vehicles double as emergency escape cars in case of eruption.
Not your typical busses. These 4x4 vehicles double as emergency escape cars in case of eruption.
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
The brown color is oxidation iron, or simply
The brown color is oxidation iron, or simply "rust"
Panorama in the Las Cañadas caldera
Panorama in the Las Cañadas caldera
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 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)
Relaxing in the pool
Relaxing in the pool
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
The summit of Mount Etna
The summit of Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Our guide, Peppe, uncovers some dark patches on the crater. Steam escapes from it - you can literally feel the heat!
Our guide, Peppe, uncovers some dark patches on the crater. Steam escapes from it - you can literally feel the heat!

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