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BACKGROUND />
Fernandina is the westernmost island of the Galapagos archipelago. It is one of the youngest and most active volcanoes in the world.

There are no human settlements on the island.

Fernandina Island has only a visitor site Punta Espinoza (located at the northeast corner of the island)

This raises shield volcano 1476 meters (4842 feet)

last eruption took place between January and April 1995.

Island volcanoes behave very differently from continental volcanoes />
The total amount of gas is low (compared to continental Europe, volcanoes). So, the lack of highly explosive eruptions (as Reventador, Mount St. Helen's, Mount Etna, etc.).

In the island of volcanoes, the lava is coming from a single vent. The eruptions of island volcanoes are mostly to break through eruptions. These cracks, radial or circumferential direction.

The outbreak began crrent Friday, May 13, 2005. A peripheral gap on the southern flank of the volcano is the source of the molten rock. Crack height is about 1,100 meters above sea level (4,000 feet).

current crack length of 6 kilometers (4 miles). The rash looks like a fountain of water burst just the molten rock. Maximmum high lava fountains rose 8-10 meters (25-30 feet).

The crack is now located on the outer flanks of the volcano (in contrast to the caldera floor, opposite). Therefore, the lava, once running down the volcano.

If the cracks are small (short), the rash is extended by a small lava evacuation zone. Therefore, the 1995 eruption lasted nearly four months. Then, open the small crack once formed a cone head start and has been the molten rock that the outbreak (continued a bit of a melting pot of the most active orange / red juice you’ll ever see). A month later, broke the walls of the cone, and lava flows began on the coast. It took a week for the lava into the ocean to reach.

If the cracks are long (like the eruption in progress) of the eruption are rather short, since all the molten rock to escape a long face. The current is about 7 km (4.5 miles), but not enough material to reach the shore walk. The flow stopped at about 5 km (3 miles) from the coast.

The crust of the lava cooled slowly, and it creates an insulating layer. Below is the lava for at least another month, until it has cooled completely.

To learn more about past eruptions Fernandina, click know http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1503-01=&VErupt=Y&VSources=Y & VRep VWeekly = Y & = N & # = var volpage bgvn_2001

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Is a dangerous outbreak? By all means. All eruptions are dangerous. Nevertheless, there are bursts less dangerous than others, such as volcanic island. It is not explosive.

What happened to wild animals and plants on the island? Nothing survived the strength of a lava flow. The main reason is the high temperature (T can be as hot as 2000 ° C). Eruptions are normal processes of island biology. They are inevitable and difficult to predict when they occur wll.

Is it good to have rashes? Sure. consider flares as “the cleaning mechanism of evolution” is. Well, nothing survives in this new country allows the replacement of natural species (eg peak pioneers disadvantages). This is the level where the choice seems natural to those who survive and those who arrive.

Ship routes be changed? Very likely. The Galapagos National Park allows ships to change their routes, show the uniqueness of an erupting Galapagos. Best Prime Time are in complete darkness. The best is to get up, perhaps, at 4:30, watch the colors eruption, lava flows and the gradual arrival of the new day at sunrise. The great and mighty volcano finally reveal his face.

Why are there so many clouds, when the lava reaches the water? The sudden change in temperature cooled lava almost immediately, but the high temperature of the lava sea water evaporated to Super Sonic speed. These clouds are water vapor of 90% and 10% of volcanic gases.

How long will the rash? Hard to say. What the M / V Santa Cruz and Isabela II yacht Galapagos Cruises visit this weekend is a sign that the rash is the most difficult things to predict. For example, the M / V Santa Cruz Galapagos Cruise has the flow to 04:00 Saturday, 14 May, the major yacht Isabela II Galapagos Cruise very little activity on the evening of Sunday, May 15 saw the main crack has stopped any volcanic activity. As the lava continues to move slowly in the crust already formed, some explode, and it appears that the outbreak continues. This is likely to be considered for the next two weeks in question. Because of the massiveness of Fernandina, and the place where the vessel may be, these localized bursts will be seen with the naked eye.

Where can I find a crack radial or peripheral? If you visited the island of Genovesa (Tower), the walk to Prince Philip to a separate area where we normally prevent groups of short-eared owl stairs. We usually sit on the hills in front of a big jump that runs forever. The crack is only 2-3 feet wide (7-10 feet). This gap is a radial crack. Some examples of circumferential cracks along Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island are found.

When the next eruption? We wish we knew. It is impossible to determine exactly when this will happen. Iceland Volcanoes give very little warning. In addition, they are very fast processes. Galapagos volcano eruption, however, have every 6 years.

If there is no eruption of the volcano is dead? Never. Geologists say … “There is no such thing as an extinct volcano. And they are right. There are volcanoes that have been dormant for hundreds of years, and suddenly produce a catastrophic explosion (such as Montserrat in the Caribbean). It is true that volcanoes in an active region, and not erupted in historic times, have the greatest threats and the worst consequences. can be any volcano reactivated. Galapagos examples of the activity (without permanent flares) include, Sierra Negra, Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Roca Redonda, and on the continent to understand, we, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Antisana, Cotacachi, Sangay, Sumaco among others.

All information obtained DOUSDEBES FRANCISCO, Galapagos SHIPPING MANAGER />
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