A dormant volcano near Reykjavik, Iceland, has recently come back to life after nearly 800 years. What happened ? Has Climate Change awakened it? No casualties so far, but evacuations of people from the surrounding areas.
(On the web, there are lots of stunning pictures of lava flow from that volcano and people gathering to watch it).
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In my younger days I visited mount Vesuvius in Italy. Still an active volcano; it could erupt any day. I got to the edge of the crater; smoke was coming out of it. The location is fascinating : overlooking Naples and the ruins of the destroyed cities Pompeii and Herculanes (which I visited separately).
They say the soil under and around the volcano is very fertile and makes the residents in the densely populated area, rich. That's why they are reluctant to leave despite the danger of being caught in an eruption of lava.
The activities of the volcano are closely monitored by the experts at the 'Observatorio Vesuvio', and yet it could suddenly and unexpectedly erupt and cause loss of lives and damage to property.
lava flow in Iceland (Youtube)
Yes, as mentioned in the title, volcano eruptions definitely offer beauty, drama and destruction.
They sure do offer those things, Duta. Loved seeing the photos of you at Mt. Vesuvius. You are amazingly well-traveled.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I've been to few places , compared to others (couldn't afford it financially), but each place I've been to is memorable. Blessings to you, too, Martha!
DeleteThey do indeed offer beauty, drama and destruction. As nature so often does. In recent days I have been wondering whether climate change had something to do with this eruption too.
ReplyDeleteProbably. Nowadays we suspect Climate Change of everything that occurs in Nature.
DeleteThose photos of you at Mt. Vesuvius in Italy look really great. I have never visited a volcano. I have a relative living in Iceland and she went to visit the volcano and it was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes. They are priceless to me - standing on the edge of a volcano crater! Wow ! Seeing the smoke coming out of it Wow!
ReplyDeleteWe are like a deep pan of brownies, still not done in the middle.
ReplyDeleteSandy, dear. I must shamefully admit I don't know what you mean. Please explain.
DeleteLike a pan of brownies that has not cooked long enough, the Earth is not yet done in the middle.
DeleteI see. Thank you very much, Sandi.
DeleteIceland is located between two large pieces of the Earth that are moving apart. Under Iceland, there is also a place where it's very hot, and magma comes up, that's called a hotspot. This causes a lot of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Iceland. It's an interesting place for scientists who want to understand how the Earth works. If a volcano erupts in Iceland and the wind blows towards the Netherlands, our airplanes cannot fly. 🌋🛫
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love your photos! 🌍 You were a true world traveler! 📸
Thanks Aritha for the explanation; it makes sense. As for my photos, well, I wish I were a world traveler, but I was not. I am, however, grateful to God for the few places I did visit; they are unforgettable.
DeleteI have always wanted to visit Iceland. More so now with the eruption there. Maybe one day…
ReplyDeleteMe, too. I wanted to visit the two arctic cold places: Alaska and Iceland. However, volcanoes are in many other places and their eruption can be viewed in equally fascinating way.
DeleteI heard about the volcano in Iceland. I've never been near an active volcano, but it would be so interesting to see in person. I like the pics of you by Mt Vesuvius!
ReplyDeleteIt may sound weird, Mari, but I feel sort of proud for having been on the edge of the crater of one of the world's most dangerous volcano, Vesuvius.
DeleteDuta I tell you that I have been in the area near Vesuvius and I have seen the vineyards that produce the Lágrima de Cristo wine. The Greek colonizers brought the vine to the place, endowing it with varieties that have made the area that is rich in minerals among the most recognized and prosperous for wine production.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Norma. The wine produced there is one of the best quality, and it makes the people in this area rich . I haven't seen the vineyards myself, as I was concentrated on the volcano itself, but I heard the stories about wine production.
DeleteSo great to see the photos of you! I wonder if you can still do that. So interesting to know about this in Iceland. I got to wonder if the earth is ready to erupt in places after all this time. Thanks so much for this interesting post!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Ellie. You mean if at my age, I could go again to the top of that volcano. I don't know. Probably not, as it is a physical effort. Also the thought that it might erupt any moment is quite scary.
DeleteHow amazing that you got to be there at the Vesuvius volcano, great pictures! It is scary what is happening in Iceland. Here along the California coast most of the coastlines and piers have been washed away due to heavy waves and undercurrents.
ReplyDeleteWell, Climate is controlling us everywhere. I call it "Nature's Fury". May God protect us! Only HE can. We, humans are quite helpless.
DeleteVery scaru for those living nearby -christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteScary indeed, Christine. Nowadays, it has become scary living in a lot of places: near a river, near a forest, near the sea.. Flooding and fires provide daily disasters.
DeleteMust be rather scary being near an eruption as it's happening. Saw it on the TV news and felt for the people that lived in it's path.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky in Italy that that volcano behaved itself, as some people in New Zealand a few years back were looking and bang the volcano erupted killing them.
"... behaved itself":)- good phrase.
DeleteThere are lots of active volcanoes around, and yet thousands of tourists dare to go to the top and enjoy the views.
Right. We , humans, flow with the tide. We get used to things like all the others.
ReplyDeleteHello - thanks for commenting on my post after such a long absence.
ReplyDeleteI love studying and looking at Volcanoes. Years ago we did go to Italy and I climbed and saw the destruction of Pompeii. It was fascinating.
I guess anything worth while - has their dangers - you?
Thanks about the wedding pictures - they are young, but I have confidence in them.
Welcome back to blogging, Chatty. You were missed.
DeleteSo, you also visited the volcanic area in Italy and had that one time life experience that I had. Fascinating views , indeed!
I've never been to Europe but my late mother in law visited Italy twice. She saw Pompeii but I don't think she toured the volcano. I would love to see Pompeii and peer into a volcano. I've seen volcanic mountains (in our Washington State in the United States) but none actively putting out smoke.
ReplyDeleteIt could be lovely for you to have the chance "to peer into a volcano", and visit the site that it has destroyed, Pompeii.
DeleteIt's really true that traveling makes us speechless and then turns us into a story-teller. I like all the stories you share about places you've been to. I've never been that close to a volcano!
ReplyDeleteBeing that close to it , is both frightening and fascinating! Traveling, as you say, turns us into story-tellers, and that's good for us all.
DeleteMagníficas fotografías al lado del fascinante mundo de los volcanes.
ReplyDeleteEstuve una vez en Nápoles, pero apenas pude visitar nada. Iba con la intención de acudir a un evento en Roma y no me dio tiempo.
Espero volver algún día.
Saludos.
Thanks for your kind words about the photos. May your hope of coming back to Naples and area, soon be fulfilled!
DeleteYa vi en las noticias la erupción de este volcán, la verdad es que no me gustaría vivir cerca de ninguno.
ReplyDeleteAbrazos.
Me, neither. However, lots of people, because of money matters prefer to live near a volcano, risking loss of life and property. As I mentioned, volcano soil is very fertile and makes the growers of certain crops quite rich.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing the pictures, Duta, but I wouldn't want to live close to a volcano. When our daughter and husband were living in Mexico City, a volcano errupted. They lived quite a distance from where the eruption occurred, but she was able to bottle up ash that she collected from around her house.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dianna. Yes, everyone says the same; he wouldn't want to live close to a volcano. However, life doesn't always ask us where we wish to live, and sometimes we end up living in places that we would prefer to avoid.
DeleteYou are a braver soul than I, DUTA. It was so good to hear from you...I haven't been on here much. Interesting, but I know that I wouldn't feel safe living within the reaches of a volcano. I'm a worrier by nature (uggh), but I'd worry about eruption, and what would happen to my loved ones. I was very happy to see your post, and wish you and yours well. Sending prayers.
ReplyDeleteI was very happy, Bica, to see your comment.
DeleteWhen one is young, one is not always aware of danger, and so one exhibits bravery. Looking at the pictures I wonder of my fearless flexibility on the top of the
volcano.
Thank you for your good wishes and prayers!
Boa tarde de sexta-feira e bom final de semana minha querida amiga Duta.
ReplyDeleteThank you Luiz. Wishing you a good weekend to you, too!
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog. What an amazing adventure to be so close to Vesuvius and at the ruins of Pompeii.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Melanie.
DeleteIndeed so, it was an amazing experience. When I look back, I find it hard to believe I was on the edge of an active volcano crater.
I wouldn't want to live near a volvano but I guess if you have been there all your life, you have accepted without question. Your visit to the mouth of a volcano was brave - I have been close to a few active volvanos on my travels but not been able to enjoy that experience as too scared! Betty
ReplyDeleteTrue. I suppose those farmers in the volcano area can afford to buy houses and farms inland ; besides they're encouraged by the authorities to leave, and yet they stay and go on with their life.
DeleteSendo embora um fenómeno natural pode ter efeitos grandemente devastadores para o ser humano.
ReplyDeleteAbraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
It's not the only natural phenomenon with such effects on humans - earthquakes for example. Sadly, we humans are quite helpless about these natural phenomena. Only God , the superpower, can control Nature and the universe.
DeleteI'm no scientist or brilliant scholar, but I tend to believe it is a circle of life...and I also do believe all the junk that is being sent off into space, willy-nilly has to upset, greatly, the natural balance of things. As I said, I'm no scientist etc., but that's my thinking.
ReplyDeleteTake good care, DUTA...stay safe. :)
I thing you're right, Lee. I too believe in the circle of life, and the possible damage done by senting junk to the space.
Deletei adore your photos from this trip:D
ReplyDeleteA pesar de mi ignorancia sobre este tema, una cosa tengo clara de que la historia se repite, como está sucediendo en las Islas Canarias, de España, donde últimamente se registro una erupción en Cumbre Vieja en la isla de La Palma, que no es la primera, ni será la última.
ReplyDeleteEres muy valiente al acercarte tanto al cráter del Vesubio, porque ya está más que demostrado la violencia de sus erupciones.
Un abrazo.
Yes, it does repeat itself. However, the increase in number and intensity lately of the eruptions of various volcanos, make us believe that there's a new devastating 'trend' about the eruption phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for the people who live in Iceland where the volcano is erupting. They aren't going to be able to go back home. I really doubt any of that has anything to do with climate change. Volcanoes erupt, that's a fact of life.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Mary - volcanoes erupt--fact of life. What does have probably to do with Climate Change , is the increase in their numbers and intensity. The same applies to earhquakes and other natural phenomena.
DeleteI don't know how I missed this one. The photos are really great and I enjoyed seeing them. I'm glad you were able to visit there at a safe time.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I feel kind of proud when looking at these photos. I had the rare opportunity to be on the top of an active , famous volcano, and I took it without any hesitation.
Delete