Volcano Record Breaking

This volcano has been made from melting an unwanted record (some dance shit) in an oven, then shaping and painting. I'm hoping to make it into a bigger volcarama, it's looks pretty Hawaiian so I'm thinking of making it into an island. As it has a ready made caldera it'd make a great working volcano, I'd thought I write a post about it now because it'll take me ages to get round to making it more volcanic.

Volcano of the Week #17 - Mount Teide

This volcano is located on the Canary Islands (Tenerife), is Spain's highest point (3,718m) and the third largest volcano in the world. The last eruption was in 1909, despite the volcano's dormancy it is a decade volcano and it is thought that it may erupt at any time soon. The park surrounding the volcano is a World Heritage Site and is the second most visited volcanic landscape after Mount Fuji. Like Fuji the volcanic soils have given the area rich soils and unique plant life. Tenerife has 33 endemic plant species which are thought to be a result of the nutrient rich soils provided by the pyroclastic flows. The habitat on the volcano is harsh and the plants have therefore adapted to these conditions and have semi-spherical forms, waxy coating and high flower production. I am aware that no one apart from me is interested in plant adaptations so I'll start writing about volcanoes, which you would hope is a common interest to people reading this blog.

There are legends relating to Teide, the Guanches aborigines believed that their devil (Guayota) trapped their god of light (Magec) inside the volcano. The supreme god Achaman then fought Guayota and imprisoned him inside the volcano. This story is quite similar the legend of Typhon becoming trapped inside Etna; it's interesting how different cultures come up with similar legends to explain their volcanoes, however I am sure there are many reasons for this which classical scholars could explain to me. 

The island was formed by the activity of three volcanoes going through four stages of eruption which resulted in Teide's current caldera. This is thought to be formed by either the vertical collapse of the volcano or a series of lateral gravitational collapses. There have been many historical eruptions of Teide, one is thought to have been witnessed by Colombus as he sailed to the new world. Teide remains an important symbol to Tenerife and is on their coat of arms (I have written about volcano flags before so it's good to know that there are some). Finally I would like to dedicate this post to my friend Ian Teader whose name is a bit like Teide. 

volcano

I think the rocks on the volcano ruin this slightly, luckily I have a supply of records to turn into volcanoes.

Karacano

I got sent some exciting volcano art last week but due to easter festivities (mainly eating and getting sunburnt) I am only just getting round to posting it. It's a karaoke machine inside a volcano made by Jack Barraclough for an exhibition in Seoul. Here are some pictures and a link to the video that was played on a loop in the machine. video inside volcano

It's pretty great and I really need to make a papier-mache volcano.
Here's an easter riddle, Why is Jesus like a dormant volcano?

Volcano Dates

Those of you who have read the latest issue of Volcano Club will know that a volcano lonely hearts column has been set to try and find love for all the lonely volcanoes out there. And we have had some luck for the lovely Kolumbo who will hopefully going on a date very soon. Here's the correspondence so far and remember to email augusta.ward@hotmail.co.uk if you too like any of our singles featured.


Sir Trotter, 12.04.11, 17:28:
Oh wise knower of all things volcano, please tell me more about this mysterious Thera. I love a good yarn, and finding Atlantis would just be aces. Think of all that fabulouso Atlantean jewelry. 


Augusta, 12.04.11, 22:04:

Dear Sir Trotter

Thank you very much for your interest in one of our singles.

Thera is actually the nickname of one of our stunning volcanoes, he is actually called kolumbo but due to the most destructive event in his history, we called him thera. This event was similar to the famous vesuvius eruption in that it buried an entire civilisation. read more here http://volcano-club.blogspot.com/2010/06/volcano-of-week-1-thera.html

Today he spends most of his time underwater, so perfect if you too love the aquatic life! While he has calmed down in recent years he can still be very active, I guarantee that you will have fun with this one. 

I have taken the liberty of attaching some pictures, I hope they entice you further.

Let me know if you like a more personal meeting, I look forward to meeting you.

Kind Regards, Augusta 

Sir Trotter, 12.04.11, 22:15:

Dear Ms Augusta,

Can I just say, he is smokin' (pardon the pun). I especially like the second picture of him, very artistic. He looks like he will be quite a handful, which is how I like 'em. And a lover of the deep blue sea, nothing could be better!

A personal meeting is definitely a must, if you could be so kind as to arrange it.

Best wishes, Sir Trotter

Augusta, 13.04.11, 19:34

Dear Sir Trotter,

I am very glad you like what you see and yes he can be a bit of a live wire! Occasionally emotionally but only because he's so passionate. 

We are a Manchester based firm, will you be in the area soon? If so I would be delighted to arrange something for you two lovebirds.

Best wishes,

Augusta

I will inform everybody of just how the saucy meeting goes. 

Volcano of the Week #16- Paricutin

I have been looking at Mexican volcanoes recently mainly because my Daddy told about the artist Dr Atl who was a revolutionary in both the political and artistic sense. I'll write more on the subject soon, I'm sure, but I thought I'd first write about the volcano that has made them a prominent feature in Mexican culture. There is also literature on the subject such as Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano, which is on my volcano reading list (I do have one). Paricutin is amazing as it emerged in 1941 as the farmer was plowing his fields and reached five stories high in a week. For the first year of it's life it grew rapidly in a pyroclastic phase (high speed gaseous eruptions). The volcano continued growing and erupting then stopped in 1952 at 424m high and has been dormant since; most cinder cones tend to only erupt once (mongenetic). As the trans-mexican belt is large there is frequent volcanism in the area, however it is the rapid growth of this volcano that is so iconic.

 Erupting

 Not erupting

Paricutin is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. (Wikipedia fact of the day is that there are also Seven Wonders of Wales which are all in North Wales so its not very comprehensive.) The Volcano buried nearby villages in ash and they had to be evacuated. While the volcano erupted without warning the relatively small size gave people warning to sort themselves out.  Despite the rapid growth of the volcano it caused few fatalities, the biggest loses were to crops and subsequently livestock but this effect was reduced due to the rich nature of volcanic soils. 

This website is devoted to Paricutin

Dr Atl painting

News Relating to Love, Lust and Lava, I have 20 copies left, let me know if you want one and I'm currently in the process of setting Thera aka Kolumbo with a very hot date!

Issue Four