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
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
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Shadow of a Martian... of sorts :-)
Shadow of a Martian... of sorts :-)
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, down at Los Gigantes
Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, down at Los Gigantes
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)
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)
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
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
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
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.
Relaxing in the pool
Relaxing in the pool
The view is spectacular.
The view is spectacular.
Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude
Mount Etna
Mount Etna
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
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible

More Volcano on Willem's Blog

All blog posts

Articles (148)