Sunday, June 19, 2011

Volcanoes Dog My Travels

I was originally scheduled to travel May 23, but wound up moving the date out a few weeks. On May 21, I was very glad I did.

A Los Angeles Times story announced the following.
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND— Iceland's most active volcano has started erupting, scientists said Saturday -- just over a year after another eruption on the North Atlantic island shut down European air traffic for days.


Fortunately, this volcano did not lead to widespread travel disruption like those triggered in April 2010 by ash from Eyjafjallajokull.

While I was flying to Lima, a volcano in the Caulle Cordon of southern Chile erupted.

On the day I was flying home, Argentina's Agriculture Ministry has declared a state of emergency in three provinces. Ash from the volcano disrupted flights in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Australia and New Zealand, but thankfully, not Peru.

Authorities say the ash cloud from the erupting volcano completely circled the globe and is falling on Chilean soil. Today we were watching the German newscasts on You Tube and the ash is horrendous. Imagine ash, falling like snow, 3 feet deep. It is clogging rivers and covering lakes, making it difficult for people to get water for their animals and themselves.

Some interesting links you may enjoy.

National Geographic photos of Chilean volcano
Coming home from his mission a little late.
What is a volcano

Vulcan, Roman god of fire.
Hephaistos God of Volcanoes
Pele, goddess of fire, both creator and destroyer.
Volcano Gregorio in South America.
Modern day appeasement of the volcano gods.

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