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Helicopter Ride Over an Active Volcano

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Julia Rosien | 02/14/2008 - 12:34 | 7 comments

Montserrat - Soufrière Hills Volcano

Ever seen an active volcano, up close and personal? This video (shot last week) shows Montserrat's Soufriere Hills Volcano, which began erupting in 1995 (after being dormant for almost 400 years).

The lava on Montserrat doesn't flow like you see in the movies, but instead is slowly pushed to the top to create an unsteady and volatile dome. Explosions from deep within the volcano literally blow the top off the dome, sending up large columns of ash and rock fragments, which rain down on the area around the volcano.

 

Montserrat's VolcanoMontserrat's VolcanoIn this picture you can see the top of the volcano before and after an eruption.

 

Since the first eruption in 1995, only one eruption claimed lives. Lack of education and reluctance to believe scientific evidence led 19 people to return to evacuated areas. In 1997, all of those people were killed in a matter of minutes after a massive eruption.

Since then the government has banned anyone from entering the exclusion zone.Exclusion Zone MapExclusion Zone Map

The volcano's dome last collapsed in 2006, but seismic activity shows a potential for another eruption. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory lists the current alert level at 4 (5 is a major dome collapse). But even scientists who study the volcano on a daily basis can't predict with any certainty when, or even if, she'll blow again.

Instead of trying to outguess the volcano, the people of Montserrat are pouring their energy into rebuilding what's left of their island and that includes touting it as a tourist destination.

Would you spend your Caribbean vacation on Montserrat?

Talk Back, Girlfriend and rate this post!

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Comments

kona helicopter tours are

Submitted by kona helicopter tours (not verified) on Tue, 06/23/2009 - 01:27.
kona helicopter tours are unique in that you also get the opportunity to land and walk through some of the undisturbed and natural beauty of the deepest rainforests in Hawaii.

Now that is what I call an

Submitted by muska (not verified) on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 01:41.
Now that is what I call an excellent post, thanks...buy HGHbuy winstrolbuy legal clen

Excellently written article,

Submitted by boediger (not verified) on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 13:00.
Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up! Cheers.

Definately beautiful Island,

Submitted by Catt (not verified) on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 14:24.
Definately beautiful Island, I've been there several times and lived there before the volcano erupted. yes the volcano has wrecked quite abit of land, but the safe zone is still as beautiful as it was before the eruption. Can't wait to take my son & husband there! People think I'm crazy when I say that, but the safe zone really is safe. My grandparents have lived there for nearly twenty years now & there as safe as houses (as long as they keep to the safe zone, lol) It is true though, unfortunately, although it only spews out smoke & ash now, who knows when the next big wave of lava will flow out of its swelteringly hot top!

Excellently written article,

Submitted by Zoran (not verified) on Tue, 03/17/2009 - 20:34.
Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up! Cheers.

Thanks for the info. BTW

Submitted by Rodney N Faulk (not verified) on Sat, 05/17/2008 - 08:49.
Thanks for the info. BTW I've marked it.

As a person who has spent

Submitted by Sam (not verified) on Mon, 03/24/2008 - 10:18.
As a person who has spent time there the past two years, obviously a resounding yes.

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