On the way back from the Gambino winery the other day, we passed through two small villages on the side of Etna...both were absolutely covered in black ash and soot. There were piles of ash in the roads, and side streets were probably an inch thick with the stuff !
The road crews had swept this slag into mounds a couple of feet high along the side of the road, resembling piles of black snow... Only this stuff doesn't melt! I guess they have to remove it with machinery.
As if that weren't enough, Etna erupted again that night...this time, we were able to catch a bit on camera...quite a show of sparks and lava...the pictures show the size of some of the "grit", and a shot of the eruption...truely amazing...
More to follow...Chris and her hope we don't get buried by the stuff husband
That's really neat about the bits of volcanic ash/rock. Hope you bring some home for souvenirs.
ReplyDeleteWe're probably mentioned that Mary Ellen and I listen to lots of recorded books. It just happens that we are listening to a book on geology right now, and there's been lots of stuff about volcanoes. (The bulk of the book is about the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.)
Speaking of earthquakes, have you felt any with Mt. Etna so close?
Sounds like you guys are having an excellent trip!
--Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteHave not felt the earth move, at least not from Etna ;>)
The landscape and geology here in Sicily is pretty amazing... Mountains literally soar out of the sea. You can see how erosion, along with Etna, creates an ever-changing landscape.