willem.com

Volcano on Willem's Blog

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.

All blog posts
One can only image the forces of nature judging by these craters.
One can only image the forces of nature judging by these craters.
Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Relaxing in the pool
Relaxing in the pool
Landscape inside the Las Cañadas caldera is similar to Mars
Landscape inside the Las Cañadas caldera is similar to Mars
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
Teide seen from my iPhone
Teide seen from my iPhone
The higher you get the rougher the terrain becomes
The higher you get the rougher the terrain becomes
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
Rough terrain
Rough terrain
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, down at Los Gigantes
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, down at Los Gigantes
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
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 :-)
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
Panorama in the Las Cañadas caldera
Panorama in the Las Cañadas caldera
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)
Etna is big enough to see it from space (NASA Earth Observatory)
Etna is big enough to see it from space (NASA Earth Observatory)

More Volcano on Willem's Blog

All blog posts

Articles (162)