Elevation 2620 m above sea-level – Site: Mount Etna.
On 7 September, once again nature showed us all her power: through a fissure on the eastern flank of the volcano, a magma flow rose overbearingly to the surface.

 


Top: Lava flow in proximity of the fissure – Shot data: 20” fl6 – 50mm - Photo: R.Cosentino

The eruptive activity took place on the western wall of the Valle del Bove, just below the present main summit crater.
This deep depression cutting the eastern flank of Etna is 8 km long and 5 km wide; on its steep walls, the overlapped products of the eruptions occurred over the last tens of thousands years are clearly visible.
 
 

In this area, after the eruptions of Ancient Etna and as late as about 25.000 years ago, many eruptive
centres formed, one on top of the other, and more and more raised and enlarged the shape of the
volcano. Thanks to the walls of the Valle del Bove we are now able to go back to their origin.


Photo: R.Cosentino

Top and below: The fissure originating the lava flow    

As almost always happens, this eruption occurred at lower elevation compared to the summit craters area; it originated from a fissure preceded by other upstream fractures called “non-eruptive”
because no magma is emitted from them.
Since the eruption was not particularly violent and therefore not so dangerous to make a visit unsafe, we seized the opportunity to come close to magma and observe some charming phenomena
such as “red-hot windows” created by the so called “ingrottamento” phenomenon.

We went on many excursions and each time the scenario was different: during our first visit, the lava was flowing underground, whereas during the last one the lava flow was on surface, giving us
the chance to expose our films (exposure time between 1/8’ and 30”) to white-hot streams of steam and magma.

 
Photo: G. Scaccianoce
 
   
 
Top: The lava, flowing underground, forms on surface gas-emitting windows Il flusso lavico ingrottatosi crea in superficie delle finestre che presentano forti emissioni gassose - Photo: G.Scaccianoce  

As one can perfectly understand, we had good reasons for being troubled about our equipment
because of the intense heat which at about 10-15 m from the fissure reached a peak of 50-60 degrees. It became therefore necessary to protect both camera and lens wrapping them in cloths.

 

 

 

Foto: R.Cosentino

 
Top: A close view of the lava flow shows its viscosity due to a high silica content  

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY OF ETNA’S 2004 ERUPTION

 
   
 
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