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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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The summit of Mount Etna
The summit of Mount Etna
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.
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
The El Chinyero vent on the Santiago Ridge, still black from the 1909 eruption
The El Chinyero vent on the Santiago Ridge, still black from the 1909 eruption
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Teide seen from my iPhone
Teide seen from my iPhone
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)
Landscape inside the Las Cañadas caldera is similar to Mars
Landscape inside the Las Cañadas caldera is similar to Mars
The view is spectacular.
The view is spectacular.
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Fresh lava, just a few months old, clearly recognisable
Fresh lava, just a few months old, clearly recognisable
Relaxing in the pool
Relaxing in the pool
This detailed astronaut photograph features two stratovolcanoes, Pico de Teide and Pico Viejo (taken from the International Space Station, public domain)
This detailed astronaut photograph features two stratovolcanoes, Pico de Teide and Pico Viejo (taken from the International Space Station, public domain)
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
The higher you get the rougher the terrain becomes
The higher you get the rougher the terrain becomes
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!
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

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