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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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Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape
The brown color is oxidation iron, or simply
The brown color is oxidation iron, or simply "rust"
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera
Rough terrain
Rough terrain
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
Overview of tectonic plates (image: USGS)
Under the clouds the landscape is green, full of life
Under the clouds the landscape is green, full of life
The view is spectacular.
The view is spectacular.
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.
Rescue helicopter lifting persons out of the ocean, notice the volcanic black beach
Rescue helicopter lifting persons out of the ocean, notice the volcanic black beach
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 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.
Fresh lava, just a few months old, clearly recognisable
Fresh lava, just a few months old, clearly recognisable
Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
Mountaineering like a pro... of sorts. :-)
El Palmar in the valley between Monte del Agua and the Teno mountains
El Palmar in the valley between Monte del Agua and the Teno mountains
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
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)

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