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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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Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
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)
Panorama in the Las Cañadas caldera
Panorama in the Las Cañadas caldera
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
One can only image the forces of nature judging by these craters.
One can only image the forces of nature judging by these craters.
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
Etna is big enough to see it from space (NASA Earth Observatory)
Etna is big enough to see it from space (NASA Earth Observatory)
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
On top of the Los Gigantes massive, with the La Gomera island on the horizon
On top of the Los Gigantes massive, with the La Gomera island on the horizon
Teide seen from my iPhone
Teide seen from my iPhone
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 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)
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
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
The brown color is oxidation iron, or simply
The brown color is oxidation iron, or simply "rust"
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Driving above the clouds
Driving above the clouds
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions

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