Articles and photos of volcanoes, eruptions, lava and geothermal appearances

Bromo and Semeru – Drone images of the Sunrise at the Tengger Caldera volcanoes

The sublime view of majestic Tengger caldera volcanoes peeping through the morning mist already excited me back in 2009. Already in those days I noticed the mob that’s harrowing itself up to Penanjakan peak in the middle of the night to watch the sunrise at volcanoes Bromo and Semeru. Almost 10 years after I return, this time with a drone and to observe, that touristic bustle has intensified but also changed… Read More

The erupting lava dome of Ibu volcano

In the Far East of Indonesia, where cinnamon and nutmeg shake hands, are the Moluccan Island; the myth-enshrouded Spice Islands. That’s where the journey leads to, to Ibu volcano on the island of Halmahera. Its steep crater and continuously Strombolian erupting lava dome are the product of Sunda plate rubbing with the Philippines… Read More

Surfer paradise at Timanfaya volcano – Out and about Lanzarote

On Lanzarote and neighbouring La Graciosa the volcanic origin of the Canary Islands is most apparent and youngest. In 1730 a gigantic eruption started, tore the Earth open and created within 6 years only an exceptionally extraterrestrial appearing landscape. Lanzarote’s way of growing wine in the lava desert is unique worldwide and complements fish and seafood like hand and glove when sitting at the Atlantic shore watching some first-class surfers taking the waves… Read More

El Teide – Tenerife’s Volcano Giant

The Canary Islands are located at the shore of North Africa and only a few couple of hours on the plane away from Europe. All together they are witnesses of Earth’s history and on Tenerife that gets revealed at its best as over there the interior force of the earth created El Teide, an imposing volcano that is to boot Spain’s tallest elevation.… Read More

Taupō – Volcanic Zone and Identity Giver for the Maōri

Volcanism created New Zealand and even today the force emerging from the Earth’s inside is omnipresent on those islands in the South Pacific Ocean no matter if as earthquakes in the south or in the shape of real fire mountains on the north island. Like a belt the appearances of Taupō Volcanic Zone lead through the whole country, starting with offshore volcano White Island, the geothermally active area of colourful Wai-O-Tapu near Rotorua, right through to Lake Taupo super volcano and the fire mountains Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu to end at Mount Taranaki.… Read More

Avacha, Kamchatka’s Red Riding Hood

Avachinskaya Sopka – colloquially also known as Avachinsky or Avacha – is the backyard volcano of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the regional capital of Far East Russia’s volcano peninsula. It is a ~4000 years old Somma-type volcano, meaning it is growing and prospering inside the caldera of a historic fire mountain. The magma rising up inside the Avacha contains more iron ore than usual.… Read More

Mount Ruapehu – Above the Clouds of North New Zealand

Mount Ruapehu marks the southern end of the Taupo volcanic zone. Together with stunning Tongariro national park it stands for a region that shapes and defines the character of New Zealand’s north island. With an elevation of impressive 2797 metres it is also North New Zealand’s lighthouse, its highest spot; a place easily seen from the far away.… Read More

Simpson Harbour – Panorama of the Rabaul Caldera

The Simpson Harbour is one of the world’s largest and most beautiful natural harbours. It measures impressive 14×9 kilometres and was once, in World War II an important battle field of the Japanese and Allies. While their fight for supremacy in Oceania and the whole war is over already, a different battle still happens.… Read More

Tongariro – The Film Star among Volcanoes

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of New Zealand’s most known hikes, a so called Great Walk and like the name already tells visitors can cross the massif of an active volcano. In particular movie fans will know about this place from the epic “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy as it is the place where finally gets rid of evil ring.… Read More